Pakistan moves closer to 5G launch as advisory committee meets today

Islamabad is gearing up for a critical meeting of the Spectrum Advisory Committee (SAC) on Friday, which will set the course for Pakistan’s first-ever 5G spectrum auction. Chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the committee is expected to review recommendations from international consultants on market readiness, band allocation, pricing, and rollout obligations.

Representatives from National Economic Research Associates Inc. (NERA), a US-based consultancy hired to guide the auction, have arrived in Islamabad and will present their findings. The government had initially planned to auction 562 MHz of spectrum, but 140 MHz, including the key 154 MHz in the 2600 MHz band, remains tied up in litigation, delaying progress.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had set December 2025 as the target for the auction, but the process has faced repeated setbacks, including delays in the PTCL-Telenor merger and ongoing legal disputes. Officials say Pakistan possesses spectrum across all International Telecommunication Union (ITU) bands suitable for 5G, including 700, 2100, 2300, 2600, and 3300 MHz, which could also support 4G rollout.

Telecom operators and the GSMA have warned that further delays could cost Pakistan between USD1.8 and USD4.3 billion in lost economic benefits over the next five years. Operators are pushing for lower auction prices, rupee-denominated fees, 15-year interest-free payments, and duty-free imports of 5G equipment. However, the government’s obligations under the IMF programme make such concessions challenging.

Federal IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja cautioned that high input costs, steep taxation, and the dollar-pegged spectrum pricing already strain the sector. With just 274 MHz of spectrum currently available—less than half of what neighbouring countries operate—Pakistan continues to face network congestion, slow data speeds, and frequent call drops.

The SAC meeting is expected to define a roadmap for the long-delayed 5G rollout, which could now take place in February or March 2026, signalling a major step forward for Pakistan’s telecom sector.