5G Spectrum Auction Proposals For Upgraded Next-Generation Mobile Services in Pakistan

News Today:   Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is in action for technical and financial bids for the targeted auction of NGMS in Pakistan. The five internationally renowned consultants, Detecon Consulting FZ-LLC, KomKonsult (Private) Limited, Aetha Consulting Limited, Frontier Economics Limited, and the National Economic Research Associates Inc., presented the proposals for the auction. Under the guidelines of PPRA rules, experts would evaluate the proposed bids in detail and the process is expected to be finished within the ongoing fiscal year.

This project has faced multiple disagreements within the government, but some top officials in the IT ministry encourage releasing additional spectrum for 5G at an affordable rate. It opens a gateway to progressive competition among telecom operators to enhance the auction’s value. Industry leaders argue that IT and telecom services have not embraced a significant rise in recent years, and the country plunged into the problem of ‘’digital load shedding’’.

The long hours of electricity outages lead to the suspension of mobile data and telecom services in the country. Despite the digital grievances, all top mobile operators including Jazz, Ufone, Zong, and Telenor, have successfully tested 5G technology, effectively utilizing 274 MHz of spectrum. An additional 300 MHz of spectrum is required to introduce 5G services on the commercial level. Pakistan plans to lock the 5G spectrum auction deal by April 2025.