Overview
- The auction will offer about 597 MHz of spectrum and use a multi-round electronic clock format with mandatory bidding in the 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands, mock rounds, and an assignment stage where prices rise if demand exceeds supply.
- Bidders must file applications by February 27 and submit a $15 million bank guarantee to qualify.
- Operators may take a one-year moratorium and pay either 100% upfront or 50% upfront with five annual instalments at KIBOR plus 3%, with the USD–PKR exchange rate fixed on the auction date for payments.
- Commercial service is expected 3–6 months after licences are issued, starting in federal and provincial capitals, with obligations of at least 1,000 new sites per operator each year including 200 to close coverage gaps and phased QoS benchmarks through 2035.
- Policy facilitation includes removal of right-of-way fees for fibre builds, while operators have ordered 5G equipment and local production of 5G smartphones has begun with roughly 500,000–600,000 units made.