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The federal cabinet has approved the auction of a 600 MHz spectrum, a move expected to enhance internet speeds and enable the rollout of 5G services across the country, announced IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Tuesday. She stated during a joint press conference with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb that the auction aims to be completed early next year, specifically by the first week of February 2026.
Khawaja explained that the spectrum advisory committee’s recommendations will soon be presented to the cabinet, with ongoing consultations involving telecom sector stakeholders to ensure a transparent process. She emphasized that Pakistan’s internet speeds are currently below global standards due to spectrum limitations, and this auction will be a significant step towards closing that gap.
She added that efforts are also underway to introduce 5G technology within the next six months, which will be a major boost for digital infrastructure. As internet connectivity underpins the entire digital ecosystem, the government’s commitment includes increasing both speed and accessibility. The goal remains to conclude the spectrum auction by early February 2026.
The decision to move forward with this auction comes against a backdrop of sluggish internet speeds, frequent outages, and limited access that challenge users in the country. According to the Ookla Speedtest Global Index, Pakistan ranked 97th globally for mobile internet speed—measured at an average of 24.79 Mbps in November—and 146th for fixed broadband, with an average download speed of just 18.27 Mbps.
Despite these challenges, Pakistan made a substantial international internet capacity expansion last month with the launch of the SEA-ME-WE 6 submarine cable system. This 19,200-kilometer high-capacity fiber optic network connects the country to key digital centers from Singapore to France, offering over 100 terabits per second (Tbps) of total capacity. The system provides one of the lowest latency routes between Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe.
Pakistan has been allocated 13.2 Tbps of capacity on this system, with 4 Tbps activated immediately—markedly bolstering support for cloud computing, data centers, fintech, e-commerce, streaming services, and the broader digital economy. The SEA-ME-WE 6 network features more fiber pairs and more than double the capacity of previous systems, ensuring greater resilience for high-traffic routes connecting Asia and Europe.
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