Pakistan Government to Seek Chief Justice Help to Expedite 5G Spectrum Auction

Pakistan is taking decisive action to accelerate its 5G rollout, aiming for a “dispute-free spectrum auction” that is unburdened by legal challenges. Decades-long court cases related to telecom spectrum have become a significant obstacle, prompting the government to seek a high-level intervention.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Attorney General to meet with the Chief Justice of Pakistan. The Attorney General will brief the Chief Justice on how these pending disputes are obstructing the crucial 5G auction process, leading to substantial financial losses for both the national exchequer and the country’s telecom sector.

This direct approach to the Chief Justice was initiated after repeated attempts to resolve these issues through standard legal channels proved unsuccessful. Currently, an estimated 161.6 MHz of vital spectrum in Pakistan remains tied up in litigation, preventing the launch of a transparent and competitive auction.

According to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), the Frequency Allocation Board (FAB), and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), 606 MHz of spectrum has been made available for the upcoming 5G auction. However, the 161.6 MHz under litigation includes a critical 140 MHz in the 2600 MHz band, widely recognized globally as a prime frequency for advanced 4G and 5G services.

Despite these challenges, FAB has successfully cleared other bands for commercial use, including the 700 MHz, 2300 MHz, and 3500 MHz bands. This was achieved through coordination with defense forces and the re-farming of obsolete services. FAB has assured that once the legal hurdles are resolved, Pakistan will be ready for a competitive 5G spectrum auction that meets international standards.