Date Announced: Pakistan’s 5G Spectrum Auction Targeting December 2025

Date Announced for 5G Spectrum Auction in Pakistan

Exciting news for Pakistan’s digital future! The much-anticipated 5G spectrum auction, a crucial step towards unlocking next-generation connectivity, is now officially slated for completion by December 2025. This timeline comes directly from directives issued by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, signaling a renewed push to advance the nation’s telecom and digital sectors.

The announcement was made during a recent meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication. Key stakeholders are already in motion, with the Auction Supervisory Committee (ASC), headed by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, scheduled to meet soon. This meeting will review vital recommendations from a consultant, paving the way for the formal approval of the auction process. Officials have expressed a firm commitment to concluding the entire process before the year’s end.

During the Senate Standing Committee meeting, chaired by Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan at the Parliament House, the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) provided a detailed update on its preparations. Significant milestones have been achieved since 2021, including the alignment of essential frequency bands with global 5G standards. This involves the clearance of 30 MHz and the identification of additional millimeter-wave bands in the 3 GHz and 24 GHz ranges – all crucial steps for enabling high-speed, next-generation connectivity across Pakistan.

Despite this progress, committee members voiced concerns regarding delays caused by ongoing litigation and stay orders on certain frequency bands. These legal hurdles, they noted, are unfortunately leading to significant economic losses and impeding the rapid growth of Pakistan’s digital ecosystem.

However, the Special Secretary of the Ministry of IT offered reassurances, affirming that the auction will proceed as planned. All necessary measures are being taken to meet the revised December 2025 deadline, with an emphasis on transparency and efficiency, in line with the Prime Minister’s directives. Pakistan is truly gearing up for its 5G revolution!