Pakistan Moves Closer to 5G Auction as FAB Releases Key Spectrum Bands
Islamabad : The Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) has taken a major step toward Pakistan’s upcoming next-generation mobile services (NGMS) and 5G auction by freeing up critical spectrum bands for commercial use.
Through extensive coordination with the defense sector, parts of the 700 MHz band and the 2300 MHz high-capacity band have been released. In addition, 285 MHz in the globally adopted 3500 MHz mid-band has been secured through the re-farming of WLL services.
Ensuring Quality Spectrum for 5G
To improve spectrum quality, FAB carried out nationwide monitoring surveys, identifying and shutting down dozens of illegal links with the help of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Cross-border spectrum surveys were also conducted, with coordination initiated with India, Afghanistan, Iran, Oman, and the UAE to minimize spillover and ensure smooth 5G rollouts.
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Bands Approved for 5G Auction
According to details shared in Parliament by the Ministry of IT & Telecom (MoITT), FAB, and PTA, the Board in its 50th meeting approved the availability of multiple bands for the upcoming auction. These include:
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700 MHz (2×15 MHz)
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1800 MHz (2×3.6 MHz)
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2100 MHz (2×20 MHz)
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2300 MHz (50 MHz)
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2600 MHz (194 MHz)
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3500 MHz (285 MHz)
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24 GHz (3.082 GHz)
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39 GHz (4 GHz)
In total, 606 MHz of spectrum has been made available. However, 161.6 MHz remains under litigation, with the largest portion — 140 MHz in the 2600 MHz band — currently under dispute. This particular band is considered prime for 4G and 5G worldwide.
Key Challenges Before Auction
The Ministry highlighted two major hurdles delaying the auction:
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Pending litigation in the 2600 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 1800 MHz bands.
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The finalization of the PTCL–Telenor merger.
The Advisory Committee on Spectrum Auction has recommended swift resolution of these issues to ensure a smooth process and pave the way for Pakistan’s 5G launch.
