The federal government plans to auction 600 MHz of telecom spectrum by the first week of February 2026, a move aimed at significantly improving internet quality and paving the way for 5G services across Pakistan. The announcement was made by Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja during a press conference in Islamabad.
Read More: Pakistan to launch 5G spectrum auction by Feb 2026
Addressing the media alongside Finance and Revenue Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Shaza Fatima said preparations for the auction were already underway and all related processes would be completed within the next four to six months. She noted that the auction would strengthen existing 3G and 4G networks while enabling the rollout of 5G services within the following months.
The minister said the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had approved the recommendations of the Spectrum Advisory Committee, which would now be presented to the federal cabinet for final approval. Once approved, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority will issue an information memorandum and begin consultations with telecom operators and other stakeholders.
پاکستان میں 5 جی جون 2026 میں لانچ ہونے کا امکان
اگلے ماہ 600 میگا ہرڈز سپیکٹرم کی آکشن کا اعلان pic.twitter.com/o3zqsSo6ys— Zahid Gishkori (@ZahidGishkori) December 23, 2025
Highlighting the urgency of the move, Shaza Fatima said Pakistan currently operates on just 274 MHz of spectrum, one of the lowest allocations globally. This limited availability, she explained, has led to congestion, slower internet speeds, and service quality that lags behind regional and international standards.
The upcoming auction, she said, would help meet the growing demand for broadband services and improve overall user experience. Additional frequency bands will also be auctioned for the first time, ensuring not only better performance for existing networks but also a smoother transition to next-generation technologies.
Read More: Pakistan to unveil 5G spectrum policy soon
Shaza Fatima reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the Digital Pakistan vision under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. She added that under the upcoming Connect 2030 plan, users would gradually gain access to minimum internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps over the next five years, marking a major step toward digital inclusion and economic growth.