Pakistan has once again missed its self-imposed deadline for the launch of 5G services, failing to meet the target date of June 30, 2025. This marks the fourth consecutive delay in the country’s repeated efforts to roll out next-generation mobile connectivity.
Despite frequent assurances from government officials, including Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, key steps required to initiate the 5G auction—most notably, the convening of the Spectrum Advisory Committee meeting—have yet to take place.
In an exclusive interview with Samaa TV, Shaza Fatima cited ongoing legal challenges and pending regulatory approvals as the primary causes for the delay. She stated that the finance minister, who chairs the Spectrum Auction Committee, has been requested to convene the long-overdue meeting now that the federal budget process has concluded.
According to the IT minister, a third-party consultancy firm has finalized its recommendations on the 5G auction. These recommendations will be presented to the Spectrum Auction Committee, which will decide on the pricing and conditions of the spectrum. However, she refrained from announcing a new deadline, only expressing hope for progress in the near future. “The finance minister and head of the Spectrum Auction Committee are actively seeking updates on the matter,” she added.
Legal and Regulatory Bottlenecks
A major obstacle hampering the auction process is the ongoing legal dispute between the government and telecom operators. This dispute has resulted in a court-issued stay order on 146 MHz out of the 196 MHz spectrum initially designated for auction—significantly reducing the available high-quality spectrum for immediate deployment.
Another complication is the pending approval of the proposed merger between Telenor and PTCL by the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), which further delays the auction process and stalls market preparedness for 5G rollout.
A Timeline of Missed 5G Deadlines
- December 2022 – Original deadline set by former IT Minister Aminul Haq.
- July 2023 – Revised launch date missed.
- August 2024 – Caretaker IT Minister Dr. Umar Saif promised a rollout but failed to deliver.
- June 30, 2025 – Latest missed target under Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had appointed an external advisor to provide input on spectrum pricing and licensing criteria, but the recommendations have not yet been reviewed by the Spectrum Advisory Committee. The 5G auction can only proceed following a formal policy directive from the federal cabinet.
Until these regulatory and legal challenges are resolved, Pakistan’s long-awaited 5G journey remains stalled.
