Pakistan generated $510 million (Rs142.6 billion) from the historic auction of Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) spectrum, while the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) on Thursday completed a position allocation auction to determine the exact placement of spectrum blocks acquired by operators.
Islamabad, March 12, 2026/ Pakistan made $510 million (Rs142.6 billion) from the historic auction of Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) spectrum, while the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) on Thursday completed the position allocation auction to determine the exact placement of spectrum blocks acquired by operators.
The announcement was made by Hafeezur Rahman, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), during a press conference with Minister of Information Technology and Communications Shatha Fatima Khawaja, following the completion of the multi-band spectrum auction process.
He said that 480 MHz of spectrum was sold during the auction held on March 10, generating revenues of $507 million, equivalent to about 142 billion rupees to the national exchequer.
The appointment for the position held on Thursday generated an additional $3 million after multiple rounds of bidding, bringing the total proceeds to $510 million (Rs 142.6 billion).
Describing it as one of the largest spectrum sales globally in terms of volume, the PTA chief said the government had fulfilled its responsibility by conducting the auction and it was now the turn of telecom operators to convert the spectrum into improved services for consumers.
The site assignment phase allowed operators to determine the exact location of the spectrum blocks they had secured. The operation covered the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands, with operators bidding for lower, middle and upper block sites to improve network performance and reduce interference between networks.
No allocation was required for the 700 MHz band, which was secured only by Jazz during the auction.
Speaking on the occasion, Shatha Fatima Khawaja, Minister of Information Technology and Communications, said that the successful completion of the auction was made possible by the difficult decisions taken by the government led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
She said that many countries inquired about Pakistan’s 5G plans during the Mobile World Congress, reflecting the growing international interest in the country’s digital transformation.
The Minister lauded the coordinated efforts of the PTA, Frequency Allocation Board and other institutions to make the auction possible, while also acknowledging the cooperation of the Armed Forces in clearing the spectrum required for the process.
She stated that fifth generation pilot projects will begin in major cities next week, and are expected to be launched commercially in the coming months. “The Internet has become a basic necessity for Pakistan,” she said.
The minister also added that under the directions of the Prime Minister, the government is finalizing the smartphone leasing policy to improve access to smart devices.
She reiterated that the Ministry of Information Technology and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority have consistently advocated for reducing taxes on mobile services and devices, even though these taxes fall under the purview of the Federal Board of Revenue.
In response to a question, PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rahman added that mobile phone packages have increased by only 10-15 percent over the past three years despite rising operating costs, stressing that the introduction of 5G will not lead to a rise in package prices.
He said the deployment of new spectrum would significantly enhance connectivity, as average internet speeds are expected to rise from about 4 Mbps to nearly 20 Mbps.
Meanwhile, Naveed Butt said telecom companies actively participated in the auction and expressed optimism that the new spectrum will improve the quality of service nationwide.
“This type of spectrum auction has never happened in the history of Pakistan,” he said, adding that the new allocations will enable operators to expand network capacity and enhance customer experience.