ISLAMABAD – An auction for 5G spectrum allocation is set to take place within the next ten months, as decided in a meeting between the caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication, Dr. Umar Saif, and Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Maj Gen (R) Hafeezur Rehman.
The meeting delved into various aspects of telecommunications, with a primary focus on the forthcoming 5G auction and spectrum allocation.
Dr. Umar Saif emphasized the swift resolution of obstacles pertaining to the 5G auction, underscoring that issues related to taxation, teledensity, and spectrum will be given top priority.
He also pledged to ensure the delivery of high-quality services to the general populace and expressed a commitment to facilitating the public through the forthcoming 5G auction.
It’s noteworthy that Pakistan currently ranks significantly low in terms of cellular user service quality, with a global ranking of 79 out of 100 in the Inclusive Internet Index. One of the leading factors contributing to this status is the limited investment in the telecommunications infrastructure. Presently, the country’s telecom operators possess only 274 MHz of spectrum to cater to the seventh-largest user base in the world.
In comparison, the sole telecom operator in Australia, namely Optus, operates with over 345 MHz of spectrum. Hence, for the enhancement of services to citizens, an immediate improvement in the existing 4G infrastructure and an accelerated deployment of 5G technology in Pakistan are imperative.
