ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday launched the auction of spectrum for next-generation mobile services (NGMS), or 5G, marking a key step toward introducing faster mobile broadband and expanding the country’s digital economy.
The auction, conducted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), is expected to determine which telecom operators will acquire the frequencies needed to deploy fifth-generation mobile networks across the country.
Pakistan, a country of more than 240 million people, is one of the world’s largest telecom markets by population, with over 190 million mobile phone users. However, most networks currently operate on fourth-generation (4G) infrastructure, and the rollout of 5G has faced delays in recent years due to regulatory, economic and spectrum-allocation challenges.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb described the auction as a major milestone in Pakistan’s digital development.
“The NGMS/5G Spectrum Auction is a historic milestone that will accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation and strengthen the country’s digital economy,” Aurangzeb said while addressing participants at the auction ceremony.
