ISLAMABAD, Feb 26 (APP): Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Maj. Gen. (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman, informed the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication that three major telecom operators—Jazz, Ufone, and Zong—have each submitted $15 million as pre-bid earnest money, bringing the total to $45 million and formally setting the stage for the 5G spectrum auction.
“Three major telecom operators—Jazz, Ufone, and Zong—have submitted an advance participation fee of $15 million each, demonstrating strong industry confidence in the 5G rollout,” he revealed while briefing the committee, which met under the chairmanship of MNA Syed Amin ul Haq.
The PTA chairman briefed the committee on the forthcoming 5G spectrum auction, scheduled to be held on March 10, 2026. The government is targeting more than $634 million in potential revenue from the process, subject to competitive bidding and final spectrum pricing. The PTA has also defined minimum success criteria to ensure meaningful participation and market stability.
He described the auction as a major milestone in Pakistan’s digital transformation, aimed at significantly enhancing broadband connectivity across the country.
The chairman further said that multiple spectrum bands will be offered in the auction. Under the auction framework, each participating bidder will be required to acquire a minimum of 100 MHz of spectrum.
The initial rollout of 5G services will begin in federal and provincial capitals. Telecom operators have been directed to enhance network readiness, including increasing the fiberization of mobile towers.
The committee appreciated the PTA’s efforts in successfully steering the 5G spectrum auction process and emphasized that the ultimate objective is to ensure that the benefits of 5G technology—high-speed and reliable internet services—reach the general public and contribute to socio-economic growth in Pakistan.
The committee also discussed budgetary proposals relating to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and its attached departments for the upcoming financial year.
After detailed deliberations, the committee approved a total budgetary outlay of Rs. 71,839.863 million for the ministry and its attached departments, including both ongoing and new development projects, for the financial year 2026–27.
The committee also took up “The Electronic Transactions (Amendment) Bill, 2026” (Government Bill). The Secretary of the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication informed members that consideration of the bill had earlier been deferred to allow consultations with the Parliamentary Legislative Committee and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). However, due to time constraints, the consultations could not be held.
Consequently, the committee agreed to defer the bill until the consultative process is completed, after which it will be presented before the committee for approval.