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The Cabinet has approved a framework for a significant spectrum auction, with plans to auction approximately 600 MHz of additional bandwidth in the upcoming weeks. This initiative aims to enhance internet speeds and facilitate the deployment of 5G services across the country.
During the press conference, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja stated that the government has authorized the auctioning of seven spectrum bands, with five being introduced to Pakistan for the first time. The added spectrum is expected to improve 3G and 4G services within three to four months after the auction. Furthermore, 5G services are projected to launch within six months in provincial capitals, including Islamabad.
The minister highlighted ongoing issues with internet speed nationwide, linking these problems to an acute spectrum shortage. Currently, Pakistan operates its entire mobile internet network on just 274 MHz of spectrum for nearly 240 million people, a situation she compared to “trying to run four lanes of traffic on a two-lane road.” She also noted that Pakistan’s spectrum availability is significantly lower than neighboring countries; for example, Bangladesh, with a smaller population, possesses nearly 600 MHz of spectrum.
“Our goal is not just faster internet but future-ready connectivity,” she emphasized. The government is collaborating with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and international experts to adopt global best practices. Khawaja underlined that internet access is now a vital infrastructure for economic development, national security, education, healthcare, agriculture, and exports.
Pakistan currently boasts the world’s fourth-largest freelancing economy, with the IT sector expanding at roughly 20-21% annually. The cabinet also approved a new Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO) policy, which will allow new brands to enter the telecom market without building their own networks. Instead, MVNOs will buy bulk capacity from existing operators and offer services under their own brands, increasing competition, reducing costs, and attracting foreign investment.
In an effort to extend internet access to underserved areas, the authorities have approved district-level ISP licenses. This will enable local cable operators and smaller companies to provide internet services legally in villages, small towns, and remote regions, helping to democratize fiber deployment and address long-standing rural connectivity issues.
Additionally, Pakistan has joined the world’s longest submarine cable system, SMW-6, with two more undersea cables expected to become operational this year. These infrastructure enhancements will lessen reliance on limited international routes and reduce disruptions from global cable cuts, such as recent incidents in the Red Sea region.
Regarding temporary internet shutdowns, Khawaja clarified that such actions are only taken based on security instructions from the Interior Ministry and are not policy decisions made by the IT Ministry. She reaffirmed that human safety takes precedence over connectivity and that such measures are only implemented in extreme situations.
Looking ahead, Khawaja expressed confidence that users will see noticeable improvements in internet quality within three to four months following the spectrum auction, portraying these reforms as pivotal for Pakistan’s digital future.
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