5G Auction Hits Final Stage: Ufone and Zong Deposit $30 Million Pre-Bid Money. The race for 5G in Pakistan has entered its most critical phase. Two of the country’s leading telecom operators, Ufone and Zong, have officially deposited $15 million each as mandatory pre-bid earnest money with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). This combined deposit of $30 million signals the industry’s readiness for the high-stakes spectrum auction scheduled for March 10, 2026.
Read More: No More Surprise Deductions: PTA Orders Telcos to Get User Consent Before Activating Packages
Jazz Expected to Follow Suit
With the deadline for submission of earnest money set for February 27, all eyes are now on Jazz. Industry sources indicate that the country’s largest operator is expected to submit its $15 million deposit within the next 48 hours. The participation of at least three major players is considered a “success threshold” by the PTA to ensure a competitive and transparent bidding environment.
The Road to March 10: Key Milestones
The PTA has laid out a clear roadmap leading up to the historic auction date:
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February 27: Final deadline for applications and pre-bid deposits.
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March 3: Declaration of the official list of qualified bidders.
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March 5: A “Mock Auction” to familiarize operators with the electronic bidding system.
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March 10: The Main 5G Spectrum Auction begins.
A $700 Million Windfall for the National Treasury
The government is offering a total of 597 MHz of spectrum across various bands, including the high-demand 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz frequencies.
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Revenue Estimates: Officials expect the auction to generate between $300 million and $700 million.
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Launch Timeline: Following the issuance of licenses, commercial 5G services are expected to roll out within 3 to 6 months, starting with federal and provincial capitals.
Mandatory Rollout & Quality Obligations
Unlike previous auctions, the 2026 framework comes with strict “Quality of Service” (QoS) benchmarks. Successful bidders are required to:
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Deploy at least 1,000 new sites annually.
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Dedicate at least 200 sites per year to underserved areas to bridge the digital divide.
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Achieve a minimum 5G download speed of 50 Mbps during the initial rollout phase.
