Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan launched the long-awaited spectrum auction for Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS), on Tuesday, in hopes to improve digital connectivity and speed up transition toward a technology-driven economy.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja described the auction as a historic step that would strengthen Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and support the growth of the digital economy.
She said Pakistan had experienced several technological transformations in the past, but the current phase of digital development was particularly important for the country’s future.
The ceremony was attended by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Hafeez Ur Rehman and several parliamentarians.
Khawaja said multiple government institutions had worked together to make the spectrum available for auction, calling the development an encouraging moment for Pakistan as it prepares to adopt next-generation technologies.
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She noted that Pakistan entered the 3G and 4G era during the government of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif between 2014 and 2016. Since then, no major spectrum auction had taken place, which she said contributed to issues with internet quality and user experience.
According to the minister, the new auction will not only pave the way for the introduction of 5G services but also enhance the quality and capacity of existing 4G networks.
She said fast, reliable and affordable internet had become a basic necessity for citizens, adding that digital connectivity now plays a crucial role in sectors such as the economy, agriculture, industry and national security.
To support telecom infrastructure expansion, the government has abolished right-of-way charges for telecom networks. Khawaja said a national fiberization plan would soon be launched to help telecom companies expand their infrastructure after acquiring spectrum.
The auction framework was prepared after consultations with several institutions, including the Spectrum Advisory Committee, the Ministry of Finance, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and the Frequency Allocation Board.
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Khawaja said the framework had also received positive feedback from international telecom organizations during discussions at the Mobile World Congress.
She added that improvements in 4G services could become visible within four to five months after the auction, while 5G services are expected to be launched initially in Islamabad and provincial capitals within five to six months.
The minister also acknowledged the contributions of former IT minister Aminul Haq, various government institutions and the armed forces in making spectrum available for commercial use.
She said progress in the telecom sector was part of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s “Digital Nation Pakistan” vision, aimed at promoting digitization, training youth in technology, boosting IT exports and advancing a cashless economy.
PTA Chairman Hafeez Ur Rehman called the launch of the auction a long-awaited milestone, describing 5G as a “digital highway” that would drive Pakistan’s technological future and help bring modern internet services to remote areas.
