Pakistan’s long-anticipated 5G spectrum auction is facing delays due to regulatory hold-ups linked to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) and its proposed acquisition of Telenor Pakistan. According to the Minister for IT and Telecommunications, PTCL has yet to submit essential documents to the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), stalling the evaluation process required to clear the merger and advance the auction.
Reports suggest PTCL’s slow compliance has caused confusion and impeded CCP’s ability to assess the deal. Telenor, which planned to exit the Pakistani market by mid-2025, has missed its own timeline awaiting regulatory approval.
Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja emphasized that the CCP operates independently and that the IT Ministry or government cannot influence its decisions. The ongoing uncertainty over the merger of Ufone (a PTCL subsidiary) and Telenor remains the primary cause of the 5G auction delay.
