The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has outlined how spectrum for Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS), commonly referred to as 5G, will be auctioned in 2026, detailing the bands, lot structure, and allocation limits in its Information Memorandum.
A total of 597.2 MHz of spectrum below 6 GHz will be made available to mobile operators through a structured, multi-band auction. The process will span six frequency bands: 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz, covering both Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) and Time Division Duplex (TDD) ranges.
Several of these bands, including 700 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz, will be offered to Pakistani cellular operators for the first time, expanding the country’s mobile spectrum portfolio and laying the foundation for nationwide 5G deployment.
PTA has divided the available spectrum into 62 individual lots of varying sizes. In the low-band range, the 700 MHz band will consist of three lots of 2×5 MHz. The 1800 MHz band will include three lots of 2×1.2 MHz, while the 2100 MHz band will feature four lots of 2×5 MHz.
For TDD spectrum, the 2300 MHz band will offer five lots of 10 MHz each. The 2600 MHz band will comprise nineteen 10 MHz lots, and the 3500 MHz band will include twenty-eight 10 MHz lots, making it the largest allocation pool in the auction.
To ensure fair competition, PTA has imposed caps on how much spectrum a single bidder can acquire. The overall limit is set at 348.5 MHz, equivalent to 40 percent of the total post-auction spectrum. A separate cap of 55 MHz applies to low-band frequencies. Additional band-specific limits include 140 MHz for the 2600 MHz band and 200 MHz for the 3500 MHz band.
These constraints are designed to prevent spectrum hoarding, promote efficient use, and preserve competitive balance. PTA has also defined bidding limits for existing operators based on their current holdings, while new entrants will be restricted from bidding in certain bands.
According to the authority, the auction framework aims to balance competition with scale, enabling operators to secure sufficient spectrum to strengthen 4G networks and roll out 5G services nationwide.
