Pakistan plans 5G auction for April 2025, hires US firm for consultancy

Pakistan’s federal government has set April 25, 2025, as the date for its 5G spectrum auction, appointing the U.S.-based consultancy firm National Economic Research Associates Inc. (NERA) to oversee the process.

This development comes as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) gears up to launch 5G services, marking a major step forward in the country’s telecommunications sector.

PTA spokesperson Malahat Obaid confirmed that the PTA had initiated the hiring process for a top-tier consultant to guide the auction.

“PTA is following the timeline provided to the advisory committee,” Malahat told Nukta. "There is no delay in our rollout timeline as per the conditions outlined in operators' licenses." The consultant will draft a comprehensive license template, consulting all relevant stakeholders to ensure a smooth 5G rollout.

Sources within PTA and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication revealed that NERA, an international consultancy renowned for its expertise in spectrum valuation, accepted a letter of intent (LOI) from the government. The consultancy will now help evaluate the 5G spectrum’s value, set the base price, and establish other technical parameters for the auction, with a report expected within 60 working days.

PTA confirmed that five firms qualified for the consultancy role based on technical bids. The financial bids were opened on October 3, 2024, with NERA emerging as the top candidate. No objections were raised during Public Procurement Regulatory Authority’s (PPRA) due diligence, leading to NERA’s selection.

NERA is known for its extensive experience in telecom consultancy, particularly in economic and commercial modeling related to spectrum valuation. Its selection underscores Pakistan’s commitment to a thorough, globally-aligned 5G implementation.

The 5G auction, aimed at bolstering next-generation mobile broadband, will expand Pakistan’s mobile capabilities with benefits like ultra-low latency and machine-to-machine communication. The PTA stressed that the additional spectrum will improve internet speed and service reliability nationwide, bringing new use cases to Pakistan’s growing digital economy.

According to PTA, international telecom firms from China, the Middle East, and the West remain actively engaged in Pakistan, and the government is encouraging their continued investment. “China has always been supportive of infrastructure investment and service provision,” Obaid added, noting that 5G’s potential in Pakistan will foster deeper international partnerships in the telecom sector.

With NERA’s appointment set to be formalized this week, Pakistan’s preparations for its 5G debut are gaining momentum, promising significant advancements for both businesses and consumers across the nation.