Pakistan is currently facing the most severe spectrum shortage in the region, with only 274 MHz of spectrum available, according to official documents of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
The country lags behind several regional peers, including Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Bangladesh, in terms of spectrum availability. Saudi Arabia has 1200 MHz spectrum, while Thailand and Bangladesh each have 600 MHz.
The shortage has prompted the government to move toward the auction of 5G spectrum in order to address quality of service issues and growing network congestion. The Frequency Allocation Board has already made spectrum available for the upcoming auction, which is being overseen by an Auction Advisory Committee. PTA initiated the auction process in 2023 and later hired an international consultant in November 2024 to conduct a market analysis, determine spectrum valuation, and recommend an auction design.
According to PTA documents, the introduction of 5G spectrum is expected to have a significant economic impact. Estimates suggest it could contribute a 1.5 to 2.4% increase in Pakistan’s GDP and create between 3.1 and 13% more employment opportunities. Additionally, a 10% increase in mobile broadband penetration is projected to bring notable improvements to the national economy.
The documents further revealed that spectrum availability could directly boost foreign direct investment by 2% and increase exports by up to 1.9%. Currently, 101 countries worldwide have already launched 5G services, placing Pakistan among the few lagging behind in regional and global rankings.
Pakistan is ranked at the bottom among 16 regional countries in terms of spectrum allocation. However, PTA estimates indicate that following the successful spectrum auction, Pakistan will improve its standing to sixth place in the region.