ISLAMABAD: Pakistan plans to conduct its long-awaited 5G spectrum auction during the holy month of Ramadan next year, with authorities targeting the rollout of fifth-generation mobile services in major cities within six months of the auction.
Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima said the government aims to complete the auction process by the end of February, adding that preparations are progressing in coordination with telecom operators and regulators.
She said the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is consulting stakeholders on rollout conditions and quality-of-service benchmarks, while mobile operators are finalising their technical and commercial readiness for the auction.
The minister said improvements in existing 3G and 4G services are expected within three to four months following the spectrum sale, as operators invest in network upgrades ahead of the 5G launch.
Speaking in Islamabad, she said telecom companies have been given a three-week window to complete consultations, after which the information memorandum for the auction will be finalised in the first week of February.
As part of broader digital inclusion efforts, Fatima said the government is finalising a “Smartphones for All” policy aimed at improving device affordability. She added that around 100,000 laptops are distributed annually to students, while Google has begun assembling Chromebooks in Pakistan to support local manufacturing.
Pakistan has been seeking to modernise its digital infrastructure to support economic growth, expand broadband access and improve service quality across urban centres.
