Government to Ask Chief Justice for Help in Speeding Up 5G Spectrum Auction Launch

The government has set its sights on a “dispute-free spectrum auction,” free from legal hurdles, as part of its mission to accelerate the rollout of 5G services in Pakistan. Long-running court cases related to spectrum, some stretching back two decades, have become a major obstacle in the auction process, prompting decisive action at the highest level. According to sources, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Attorney General to meet the Chief Justice of Pakistan to address pending cases linked to telecom spectrum. The Attorney General will brief the Chief Justice on how these disputes are obstructing the auction process and causing heavy financial losses to the national exchequer and the telecom sector. Officials said the decision to directly approach the Chief Justice was taken after repeated attempts to resolve the disputes through normal legal channels failed. Around 161.6 MHz of spectrum in Pakistan remains stuck in litigation, making it impossible to proceed with a transparent and competitive spectrum auction. In a written reply to Parliament, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), FAB, and PTA confirmed that 606 MHz of spectrum has been made available for the upcoming 5G auction. However, 161.6 MHz is still under litigation, including 140 MHz in the critical 2600 MHz band, which is globally recognized as the prime band for 4G and 5G. FAB has freed multiple bands for commercial use, including the 700 MHz, 2300 MHz, and 3500 MHz bands, after coordination with defense forces and through re-farming of obsolete services. The Board has assured that once litigation hurdles are cleared, Pakistan will be ready for a competitive 5G spectrum auction in line with global standards.