Pakistan’s long-awaited spectrum auction could be a turning point for the country’s internet quality, according to Aamir Ibrahim, Chief Executive Officer of Jazz.
Speaking after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced that the auction will be held in late February, Ibrahim described it as a “once-in-a-decade opportunity” to transform connectivity nationwide.
Under a plan approved by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, six spectrum bands with a combined capacity of 600 megahertz will be auctioned. The expansion is expected to significantly strengthen data capacity and enable next-generation digital services across the country.
Addressing Pakistan’s first Policy Dialogue, Ibrahim said that what citizens truly want is simple: an internet service that works reliably and remains affordable.
He explained that Pakistan is a spectrum-constrained market, with only about 274 megahertz currently available nationwide—far below global benchmarks and roughly one-fourth of what countries like Japan offer on a per-capita basis. This shortage, he said, has become a structural barrier to improving internet quality, regardless of how much operators invest.
The upcoming auction, which could release around 600 megahertz of new spectrum, represents a rare chance to overcome this constraint. Ibrahim noted that the government’s information memorandum reflects a shift away from maximising upfront revenues toward recognising the long-term economic value of better connectivity.
For consumers, the benefits would include faster, more reliable, and more affordable internet—primarily through enhanced 4G services and a gradual, inclusive transition toward 5G. “What matters most to the customer is that the internet works,” he said.
To narrow the digital divide, Ibrahim called for handset financing models that allow consumers to pay for smartphones in instalments, a practice common globally but still limited in Pakistan. He also welcomed the rise of local handset assembly, saying it could reduce prices, meet domestic demand, and eventually support exports.
For the government, he said, the auction offers a chance to lay the foundations of a digitally enabled economy. Connectivity should be treated like electricity—a core enabler for education, healthcare, agriculture, finance, and enterprise.
“If done right,” Ibrahim said, “this auction can transform connectivity across Pakistan and unlock the country’s next phase of digital growth.”
