PTA 5G Auction Phase Two Set for Tomorrow

The PTA 5G auction phase will enter its second stage tomorrow. Telecom operators will compete for the exact placement of spectrum they already purchased. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority will conduct this round as an assignment-based auction. It will focus on positioning spectrum in the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz frequency bands. Operators will bid for top, mid, and low positions within these bands. These positions decide where their spectrum blocks sit within the frequency range. However, the regulator may skip bidding if companies reach a mutual agreement. In that case, authorities will finalize the allocation without an auction.
The regulator has set the initial positioning fee at $100,000. If the process enters another round, the price could rise to $1 million.

First Stage Raised Over $507 Million

Earlier, the PTA 5G auction phase completed its first round successfully. During that stage, 480 MHz of spectrum was sold from a total of 597.2 MHz. Several telecom companies secured large portions of the available spectrum. For example, Pak Telecom Mobile Limited purchased 180 MHz. Meanwhile, Pakistan Mobile Communications Limited acquired 190 MHz.
In addition, Zong secured 110 MHz during the auction. As a result, the first phase generated around $507 million in revenue. Officials now expect the second stage to add another $1 million to $2 million.

Technical Position Play Important Role

The positioning round may seem technical, but it plays an important role. It helps determine how efficiently telecom companies can use their spectrum. Ultimately, the auction supports the rollout of next-generation mobile services. Faster speeds and stronger connectivity could follow once 5G networks launch across Pakistan.