Tech Desk 
Jan 10, 2025
The delay in the Competition Commission of Pakistan’s (CCP) decision on PTCL’s acquisition of Telenor Pakistan is threatening the country’s 5G launch timeline, initially set for April 2025.
However, industry experts warned that unresolved issues, including a legal dispute over a crucial 140 MHz spectrum in the 2.6 GHz band, could derail plans for next-generation mobile services.
This spectrum is key for advanced LTE/4G and 5G services. Currently, only 54MHz is available, while the rest is tied up in court cases. Experts say this limited spectrum is insufficient for even a single operator to roll out enhanced broadband services nationwide.
The government hired a US-based consultancy firm, National Economic Research Associates (NERA), to assess spectrum readiness. NERA began its review in November 2024 and is expected to deliver recommendations in 60 working days.
However, delays in the Telenor-PTCL merger decision and ongoing legal battles could disrupt NERA’s findings and impact the planned auction process.
Additionally, before the merger is finalised, it will need regulatory approvals from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).
According to Business Recorder, experts predicted this process could take up to two months, further squeezing the timeline for the 5G rollout.
The government had initially aimed for a 5G auction by March 2023, but delays have pushed the timeline repeatedly. Without immediate resolution of the merger and spectrum disputes, Pakistan’s ambition to bring next-gen technology by 2025 may fall through.
