Tech Desk 
Feb 19, 2026
After a long wait, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Wednesday announced that the 5G spectrum auction will be held on March 10, with services initially releasing in federal and provincial capitals.
Addressing a press conference, PTA Chairman Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman said: "Improved connectivity was critical to achieving the “Digital Pakistan” vision and promoting a cashless economy. Regulatory and policy reforms have been aligned to facilitate the rollout of next-generation services."
As per PTA chairman, the government has excluded the right-of-way fee, which had previously delayed fiberisation projects.
"This initiative — supported by the Ministry of IT and Telecom — ensures faster execution of infrastructure projects," said PTA chairman, adding that once licenses are issued, operators are unlikely to delay roll-out. They are already preparing business cases and investment plans, which will accelerate deployment.
PTA has provided operators one year to make necessary capital investments without upfront spectrum payments, letting them focus on improving service quality.
The 5G spectrum auction will cover six different frequency bands, which include:
- 700 MHz.
- 1800 MHz.
- 2100 MHz.
- 2300 MHz.
- 2600 MHz.
- 3500 MHz.
“Our goal is to align Pakistan’s progress with regional best practices, while ensuring connectivity and quality for our population,” he said.
Responding to a question, he said 5G mobile devices will be available at affordable prices, with plans to offer them on instalment schemes.
