Pakistan’s 5G spectrum auction will now be held on March 10, 2026, after the Auction Advisory Committee revised the earlier schedule that had set February 26, 2026, as the auction date.
The decision was taken during a committee meeting convened to review the auction framework, timelines, and stakeholder consultations for Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS). The meeting was chaired by Muhammad Aurangzeb and attended by Shaza Fatima Khawaja, along with senior officials from relevant ministries and regulatory bodies.
Officials reviewed preparations for the auction, including spectrum availability, auction design, and procedural milestones, and agreed on timeline adjustments to ensure the process is completed smoothly under the revised schedule.
Under the updated roadmap, the Information Memorandum (IM) was published on January 9, 2026, formally launching the consultation phase. This consultation period has now been extended until February 6, 2026. The Final Information Memorandum will be issued on February 13, followed by an information session for prospective bidders on February 16.
The application deadline, including submission of the pre-bid deposit, has been set for February 27 at 4:00 pm PST. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority will announce the list of applicants on the same day, while the list of qualified bidders will be published on March 3.
The auction will offer spectrum across low, mid, and high frequency bands to support nationwide 5G deployment. Officials said the available spectrum is expected to include paired bands in 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz for coverage and capacity, along with unpaired bands in 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and the globally preferred 3500 MHz band for high-speed and low-latency services. In total, around 597.2 MHz of spectrum is planned to be auctioned.
Authorities described the auction as a key milestone for Pakistan’s digital future, enabling faster data speeds, lower latency, and support for emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, smart cities, industrial automation, and advanced digital services.
Following the allocation stage, starting on March 10, the assignment stage will be conducted, after which provisional results will be announced. Winning bidders will be required to submit performance bank guarantees within 15 business days, while commercial 5G services are expected to roll out within six to seven months after license issuance, subject to regulatory and network readiness requirements.
