Pakistan Launches 5G Auction Today: Spectrum Bidding Starts with Jazz, Zong & Ufone (PTML)

Pakistan launched its 5G spectrum auction today, March 10, 2026, in Islamabad. This marks a major step in the country’s digital transformation. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar inaugurated the event.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) runs the transparent, software-based auction. It allocates nearly 600 MHz of spectrum across six bands: 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz. The 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands remain mandatory for 5G deployment.

Three operators qualified and submitted $15 million each in earnest money, totaling $45 million. They include PTML (Ufone), Jazz, and Zong (CMPak). In the first round, demand for the 2600 MHz band exceeded supply. This triggered a 5% base price increase for the next round.

The government targets $300 million to $700 million in revenue from the spectrum auction. Bidding continues throughout the day.

One of the PTCL subsidiaries, PTML (Ufone) survived a technical and financial test. It strives to modernize infrastructures in such metropolises as Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. The initial stage of 5G is launched within 3-6 months.

Finance Minister Aurangzeb insisted that 5G establishes an AI, blockchain and IoT ecosystem. The PTA requires towers to be fiberized and zero right-of-way charges to accelerate the deployment. 5G-enabled local smartphones manufactured in Pakistan are 500,000-600,000.

The relocation helps in $5 billion IT exports by FY2026.

4G vs. 5G Targets (PTA)

• Download Rate: 20 Mbps (4G) -50 Mbps (5G early) -100+ Mbps (2030+)
• Latency: 75 ms (4G) → 35 ms (5G initial) → <10 ms (2030+)
• Primary Use: Mobile web/video (4G) → IoT/smart cities (5G) → Autonomous systems (long-term)