Pakistan is entering the second stage of its telecom spectrum auction process, where the final positioning of key frequency bands acquired by telecom companies will be determined.
Officials from the telecom regulatory authority say this phase will focus on assigning exact positions within the frequency ranges that telecom operators secured during the first round of the auction.
The upcoming step will follow an assignment-based auction model, which will specifically cover the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz spectrum bands. These frequency ranges are widely recognized for their importance in supporting modern mobile data services and advanced telecommunications networks.
During this phase, telecom companies will compete to secure preferred locations within the spectrum bands they have already obtained. Operators may choose to bid for upper, middle, or lower portions of the frequency range depending on their network planning strategies.
Experts in the telecom industry note that the exact placement of spectrum blocks can influence network efficiency and signal performance. For this reason, companies often try to obtain positions that align best with their existing infrastructure and future expansion plans.
Regulatory authorities have clarified that the bidding process may not always be necessary. If all participating telecom companies agree among themselves on the positioning of the spectrum blocks, the regulator will directly finalize the allocation without holding an auction.
However, if the companies fail to reach a consensus, the regulator will conduct a competitive bidding round where telecom operators will compete to secure their preferred spectrum positions.
Officials have also revealed that the starting price for spectrum positioning has been set at $100,000. In the event of competitive bidding, the cost may rise significantly and could go up to $1 million, depending on demand for specific spectrum placements.
Regulators say the structured process is designed to ensure fairness, transparency, and optimal use of national spectrum resources.
The current phase comes after the successful completion of the first stage of the spectrum auction conducted earlier by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
During that initial round, nearly 480 MHz of telecom spectrum was sold to various operators operating in Pakistan’s mobile communication sector.
The auction generated approximately $507 million for the government, highlighting the growing economic value of telecommunications infrastructure in the country.
Officials believe that once the second phase is completed, telecom operators will be able to finalize their network deployment strategies and continue expanding high-speed mobile services across Pakistan.
Analysts say the process could ultimately support the country’s broader digital transformation efforts and improve connectivity for millions of users.
