Pakistan has climbed to 7th position globally among comparable telecom markets following its recent IMT spectrum auction, a significant leap from its previous 14th place.
The improvement comes after the allocation of 480 MHz of new spectrum, increasing the country’s total assigned IMT spectrum from approximately 274 MHz to nearly 754 MHz. This expansion places Pakistan ahead of several regional and developing markets, including Indonesia, Egypt, Turkey, Thailand, and Bangladesh, while narrowing the gap with countries such as India and South Africa.
The auction, held on March 10, 2026, marks a major milestone in strengthening Pakistan’s telecom infrastructure and preparing for nationwide 5G deployment under the Digital Nation Pakistan vision. More than 80 percent of the available spectrum across the 700, 2300, 2600, and 3500 MHz bands was successfully allocated.
All spectrum in the 2300 and 2600 MHz bands was fully sold, while strong demand in the 3500 MHz band highlights industry readiness for 5G rollout. Jazz secured 190 MHz across multiple bands to reinforce nationwide coverage and capacity. Ufone acquired 180 MHz, focusing on high-capacity 5G and fixed wireless access, while Zong obtained 110 MHz to strengthen broadband performance.
The auction generated approximately $507 million in government revenue and significantly expanded the country’s broadband capacity. The process was conducted under the supervision of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, with international consultancy support ensuring transparency and global standards.
While Pakistan has moved into the upper tier of emerging telecom markets, advanced economies such as Japan and Saudi Arabia—each with over 1.3 GHz of assigned spectrum—continue to lead. Countries like China, Brazil, and the Philippines also remain ahead, indicating further room for growth.
The newly allocated spectrum is expected to improve network quality, reduce congestion, and enable faster internet speeds, supporting the expansion of digital services such as AI, fintech, and e-commerce. However, continued spectrum releases and infrastructure investment will be essential for Pakistan to remain competitive with leading digital economies.
