Official: Jazz, Zong, and Ufone Qualify for Pakistan’s Historic 5G Spectrum Auction

Official: Jazz, Zong, and Ufone Qualify for Pakistan’s Historic 5G Spectrum Auction, The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has officially cleared three major telecom operators—Jazz (PMCL), Zong (CMPak), and Ufone (PTML)—to participate in the upcoming Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) and 5G spectrum auction. The final list of qualified bidders was released following a rigorous technical and financial evaluation of the applications submitted by the February 27 deadline.

Read More: PTA Launches Advanced Web Portal to Monitor Telecom Coverage and Service Quality

The Race for 5G Begins

Each of the three operators has already deposited a mandatory pre-bid earnest money of $15 million, totaling a $45 million windfall for the regulator before the bidding even starts. Notably, no new international or local players entered the race, leaving the current “Big Three” to battle for the 597.2 MHz of available spectrum.

Auction Roadmap: Key Dates

To ensure a smooth transition, the PTA has scheduled the following milestones leading up to the main event:

• March 4 (Today): A comprehensive Bidders’ Seminar to guide companies on the electronic bidding process.

• March 5 (Tomorrow): A Mock Auction session to allow operators to practice the bidding platform.

• March 10, 2026: The Final 5G Spectrum Auction will commence.

What’s Up for Grabs?

A massive 597.2 MHz of spectrum across six frequency bands is being offered. The focus is on the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands, which are globally preferred for high-speed, low-latency 5G services. Other bands, including 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 2300 MHz, are also available to enhance existing 4G capacity and rural coverage.

When Will 5G Launch in Pakistan?

Following the auction, the government expects a phased commercial rollout:

1. Mid-2026: Commercial 5G services are expected to launch in federal and provincial capitals (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, and Quetta).

2. Infrastructure Targets: Operators are mandated to deploy at least 1,000 new sites annually, with a specific focus on fiberizing mobile towers to support the massive data demand.

3. Revenue Target: The national treasury is eyeing a total revenue between $300 million and $700 million from this auction, depending on the competitive bidding rounds.