Auction Advisory Committee to Brief PM and Deputy PM on 5G Spectrum Auction

The process of launching 5G services in Pakistan has reached a decisive stage, as the Auction Advisory Committee (AAC) has decided to brief Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on key policy and regulatory developments related to the upcoming spectrum auction. The briefing will cover the final report prepared by National Economic Research Associates Inc. (NERA), a US-based consultancy firm hired by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in November 2024 to advise on Pakistan’s first-ever 5G spectrum auction. NERA presented its final report to the AAC, also known as the Spectrum Advisory Committee (SAC), on November 15, 2025, after completing its market, technical, and economic assessments. Following the submission of the NERA report, the Auction Advisory Committee and the federal government are required to take final decisions on the auction framework, reserve prices, and rollout strategy. With regulatory clarity emerging, the committee has entered the final decision-making phase to determine the timeline and structure of the 5G spectrum auction. Progress on the PTCL–Telenor merger has also influenced the process. The PTA granted a No Objection Certificate to PTCL for the acquisition of Telenor Pakistan in December 2025, following Phase II approval by the Competition Commission of Pakistan, subject to strict conditions aimed at ensuring market competition. Final financial closure of the transaction is expected in early 2026. Meanwhile, the government has decided to proceed with the auction despite earlier technical disputes related to the 2600 MHz band, citing the absence of any court stay order. According to official plans, a total of 606 megahertz of spectrum will be auctioned across six key bands, including 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz. Sources said prolonged delays have kept valuable spectrum idle, resulting in daily economic losses. The government has set March as the target deadline for the 5G spectrum auction, subject to final approvals, the issuance of policy directives and the Information Memorandum.