The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has entered the final stretch of the second phase of the 5G spectrum auction. Following the successful sale of 480 MHz of spectrum for $507 million earlier this week, the focus has shifted to the Assignment Stage, where operators compete for specific frequency positions (top, mid, or low) within the bands they acquired.
As of today, March 12, 2026, the bidding for positioning in the 2600 MHz band has been concluded after three competitive rounds. All three major operators—Jazz, Ufone, and Zong—have confirmed their preferred placements within this band. The process has now moved into the bidding for the 3500 MHz band, which began at approximately 12:30 PM.
Auction Summary and Current Status
| Phase | Focus | Status |
| Phase 1: Allocation | Quantity of spectrum sold ($507M total) | Completed (Mar 10) |
| Phase 2: Assignment | Specific frequency positioning (2600 MHz) | Completed (Mar 12) |
| Phase 2: Assignment | Specific frequency positioning (3500 MHz) | In Progress |
Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja emphasized that this auction marks a historic leap for Pakistan, moving the country from one of the lowest tiers of spectrum availability (274 MHz) to a more robust middle-range capacity. While 5G services are expected to roll out in major cities within the next six months, the immediate result for consumers will be a significant improvement in 4G quality and speeds over the next 4–5 months.
