Pakistan’s telecom industry has called on the federal government to adopt rational and pragmatic conditions in the upcoming spectrum auction policy, urging policymakers to prioritise long-term economic and digital benefits over short-term revenue generation. Industry leaders argue that spectrum, while invisible, is critical national infrastructure underpinning digital connectivity across financial services, education, healthcare, and the growing freelance economy.
Despite a sharp rise in demand for mobile data, Pakistan currently has only 274MHz of spectrum allocated nationwide, resulting in slow internet speeds, poor service quality, and constrained innovation. Telecom operators say this scarcity is holding back households, businesses, and public institutions, limiting the country’s ability to scale digital services.
Jazz CEO Aamir Ibrahim stressed that the auction framework must reflect the economic realities of the sector. He argued that since operators earn in Pakistani rupees, spectrum pricing and payment structures should also be denominated locally to reduce financial strain and accelerate network rollouts. He called for a long-term, nationally aligned approach to spectrum policy that supports affordable internet access and restores investor confidence.
Industry stakeholders highlighted broader economic implications, noting that freelancers contributed around $400 million in remittances between July 2024 and March 2025 but remain constrained by unreliable connectivity. Nearly 40 per cent of Pakistan’s adult population is still financially excluded, as digital banking and microfinance services struggle to scale without stable broadband. Operators also face one of the world’s lowest average revenues per user, at roughly $1, limiting reinvestment capacity.
The government’s decision to release more than 600MHz of new spectrum has been welcomed as a foundational reform aligned with national digital goals, including AI and IoT adoption. However, industry voices caution that auction design is critical. Citing GSMA analysis, they warned that a two-year delay in releasing spectrum could cost Pakistan $1.8 billion in GDP, rising to more than $4.3bn over five years.
Meanwhile, in preparation for future 5G services, Zong and Huawei have successfully conducted Pakistan’s first field test of a full-duplex E-band microwave backhaul link. The technology enables simultaneous transmission and reception on the same frequency, doubling spectrum efficiency and supporting data speeds of up to 50Gbps. Zong said the solution will underpin faster, more reliable, and scalable connectivity, reinforcing its role in Pakistan’s digital transformation.
