On Friday, Federal Minister of IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja
announced that Pakistan would auction 600 Megahertz (MHz) spectrum next month to
provide better internet speeds and roll out 5G in all over the country.
While addressing the media in Islamabad minster said that “the spectrum available for
our telecom industry is extremely limited”, and she added that “Telco’s provide
services in the country just 274 MHz”. “We are spectrum-starved country” she also
said.
She stated that “We are a country of 240 million people with only 274 MHz of
spectrum”, she also added that “Bangladesh is about two-thirds of Pakistan’s
population and providing 600 MHz”.
Not only in Bangladesh but also in south countries like India, Bhutan, the Maldives, and Sri Lanka have launched 5G networks nationwide, while Pakistan, Nepal, and Afghanistan have yet to do so. The federal minister highlighted that the internet was “critical infrastructure,” like roads used to be in the past.
She maintained that “The internet plays a crucial role in the development of the social sector, large-scale economic policies, and national and personal security. Without this [600MHz] level of connectivity, we cannot move forward,”
The IT minister said that it is vital to perceive the internet and connectivity as an “enabling
tool” that will unlock the country’s “ economic potential and create employment”. Last week, during a press conference alongside the finance minister, Khawaja said the government aims to complete the auction by late January or early February.
In November, the consultant appointed for the 5G spectrum auction submitted its report to
the government, which had been delayed due to the PTCL–Telenor merger and ongoing litigation concerning the 2600MHz band.
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The report, compiled by the US-based consultancy National Economic Research
Associates (NERA), observed that Pakistan was making available 606MHz of new spectrum
across six key frequency bands: 700MHz, 1800MHz, 2100MHz, 2300MHz, 2600MHz and
3500MHz. Among these, the 2600MHz band was identified as the most optimal for the
deployment of 5G services.
