Pakistan’s 5G spectrum auction has moved into its second round after all three participating telecom operators expressed interest in securing preferred positions within the 2600 MHz frequency band.
Officials confirmed that the base price for positioning in the 2600 MHz band has been fixed at $100,000 for this stage. The competitive bidding phase was triggered after multiple operators sought the same band placements, requiring further rounds to determine final allocations.
The second phase of the auction is being conducted at the headquarters of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), where the assignment stage is now underway. PTA Chairman Hafeez Ur Rehman inaugurated the process alongside board members and senior officials.
All three qualified telecom companies are participating in the auction through an online bidding system. Each bidding round lasts 15 minutes, followed by another 15 minutes for result compilation. Authorities have also scheduled a 30-minute break after every completed round to ensure smooth proceedings.
During this phase, telecom operators are competing for top, mid, and low positioning within both the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz spectrum bands. The auction process began with the 2600 MHz band, while bidding for the 3500 MHz spectrum will take place afterward. If more than one operator targets the same position, bidding will continue until only one company remains.
Regulators said that if operators reach a mutual agreement on band positions, PTA may finalize results without additional bidding. However, competitive rounds can push the positioning fee from the initial $100,000 up to as much as $1 million if multiple rounds are required.
Earlier this week, the first phase of Pakistan’s 5G auction concluded successfully, with 480 MHz of spectrum sold out of a total 597.2 MHz available. China Mobile Pakistan (Zong) acquired 110 MHz, Pak Telecom Mobile Limited (Ufone) secured 180 MHz, while Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited (Jazz) purchased 190 MHz of spectrum.
The initial auction phase generated approximately $507 million in revenue. PTA officials expect the ongoing positioning stage to contribute an additional $1 million to $2 million, further strengthening Pakistan’s preparations for nationwide 5G rollout and next-generation digital connectivity.
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