Pakistan has taken a major step toward launching next-generation mobile services as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) prepares to issue 5G licences to telecom companies later this week following the completion of the spectrum auction process.According to PTA officials, the licences will be granted simultaneously to the three telecom companies that successfully secured bids in the auction.
However, the licences will only be issued after the companies submit the required bank guarantees.Officials said that each telecom operator must provide a $15 million bank guarantee under the licence conditions to meet regulatory requirements. One company has already submitted its bank guarantee, while the remaining two are expected to complete the process within the next one to two days.
Last week, Pakistan successfully concluded the second phase of its 5G spectrum auction, marking a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward introducing advanced mobile technology.Federal Minister for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja stated that the auction is expected to generate $510 million for the government, paving the way for the nationwide rollout of 5G services.Meanwhile, PTA Chairman Hafeez-ur-Rehman confirmed that the total amount generated from the spectrum auction stands at $510 million (approximately Rs142 billion), describing it as a major milestone for Pakistan’s digital and telecommunications sector.
Telecom companies have also acknowledged the fairness and transparency of the auction process and revealed that 5G service testing has already begun in several areas, signaling that faster and more advanced mobile connectivity may soon be available to users across the country.
