KARACHI, March 9, 2026: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) announced on Monday that its wholly owned subsidiary, Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (PTML), will participate in the upcoming Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS)/5G spectrum auction scheduled for March 10, 2026.
In a filing with the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), PTCL confirmed that PTML has been declared eligible by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to bid for spectrum blocks in the much-anticipated auction. Any developments will be promptly reported to the exchange in line with regulatory requirements.
The auction will offer spectrum in six frequency bands, totaling 597.2 MHz, with four bands being introduced for the first time to support 5G rollout in Pakistan. Leading telecom operators—including Jazz, Zong, and Ufone—have already submitted $15 million each as pre-bid earnest money, signaling strong competition. The government expects revenue of over $634 million depending on bid outcomes.
The auction will follow a two-stage clock format via an Electronic Auction System. In the first stage, operators bid for spectrum blocks, while the second stage determines the exact position within each band. Spectrum payment can be made upfront or in installments, with a one-year moratorium to encourage investment.
The rollout of 5G networks is planned in phases over nine years, initially covering federal and provincial capitals, followed by major cities. Each operator will install roughly 1,000 new sites annually, with expected download speeds of 100 Mbps for 5G and 50 Mbps for 4G by 2035.
To support 5G adoption, the government has announced smartphone tax reductions, promotion of local manufacturing, duty-free import of 5G equipment, and a joint task force to address electricity supply challenges for telecom networks.
Pakistan currently boasts over 205 million telecom subscribers, with broadband penetration at 63% and data usage rising sharply from 16,250 petabytes in 2021–22 to 27,727 petabytes in 2024–25. Commercial 5G services are expected later in 2026 post-auction, with local 5G smartphone production already underway.