Pakistan’s plan to auction 5G spectrum faces fresh delay as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has still not received the officially approved 5G policy summary from the federal cabinet.
The cabinet granted approval for the 5G summary on September 25, 2025, but the document has not been formally transmitted to the PTA for action.
PTA officials say they remain unaware of the final provisions of the approved summary. Without the official policy directive, the authority cannot issue the Information Memorandum, which would outline the spectrum auction rules, frequency bands, terms and conditions for telecom companies.
Presently, Pakistan owns 274 MHz of mobile spectrum and continues to seek expansion to 600 MHz of mobile spectrum to serve 5G services. This will enable faster data rates and contemporary digital connectivity. The PTA will start preparations for the auction after the reception of the summary.
Industry experts say the delay slows Pakistan’s entry into next‑generation mobile technology. They warn that a slow 5G rollout could hurt investment, digital growth, and telecom competition. Telecom companies and tech experts are urging the government to provide the policy summary quickly so the 5G spectrum auction can proceed.
