Pakistan to double mobile spectrum in major telecom auction, IT minister

Pakistan will auction off wireless mobile spectrum capacity after resolving legal hurdles that delayed the sale, Minister of State for Information Technology (IT) and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja told the Senate on Wednesday.

The expansion from 274 MHz to 550 MHz of spectrum - the invisible radio channels that carry mobile signals - will help ease the country's congested networks.

These radio spectrums determine what mobile technologies can be deployed nationwide. Each 5G network requires about 100 MHz of spectrum for optimal performance, compared to 4G's 20-40 MHz and older 2G networks' 25 MHz.

Separately, Khawaja reported that IT exports grew by 33 percent between July and November 2024. She also noted that internet usage across the country increased by 25 percent over the course of the year.

New submarine cable

The minister also announced that Pakistan has recently connected to one of the world's largest submarine internet cables. Once service begins through this cable, it is expected to reduce internet connectivity issues across the country significantly, she said.

During the Senate's question hour session, the IT Minister explained that Pakistan is connected to eight submarine cables, with one nearing the end of its service life. "The world's largest submarine cable has landed in Pakistan," she claimed, adding that it would be operational within days and lead to improved internet service across the country.

Defending the government against criticism over poor internet service, she explained that the recent internet service disruptions primarily affected mobile broadband users, while organizations with fixed-line connections, such as IT companies and universities, experienced minimal disruption.

She added that when the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) complained about internet service issues faced by three software companies, the PTA sent a team and resolved these issues.

Highways for bicycles?

Senator Anusha Rehman acknowledged the country's internet problems and Telenor's impending exit from Pakistan. While welcoming the clearing of legal hurdles for the 550 MHz spectrum, she criticized how the existing 274 MHz had been "drip-fed" to mobile companies over 30 years.

She questioned whether the government would impose restrictions on the new spectrum auction, comparing it to "claiming you're building highways for Ferraris but only allowing bicycles," where spectrum is provided but then restricted through regulations.

"What mechanism will ensure that the government won't impose restrictions on the spectrum that will be auctioned?" she questioned, asking whether any consulting services had been engaged.

In response to this question, Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja said that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has engaged the international consulting firm NERA and is awaiting its final report.