The auction concluded after three rounds, with the results announced by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman Hafeez Ur Rehman alongside Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima.

According to the PTA chairman, two out of three lots in the 700 MHz band were sold, along with all five lots in the 2300 MHz band, all 19 lots in the 2600 MHz band and 22 out of 28 lots in the 3500 MHz band. This brought the total spectrum sold during the auction to 480 MHz.

Hafeez Ur Rehman described the development as a historic milestone for Pakistan, highlighting the country’s progress toward digital transformation. He said telecom operators played an active role in the auction process, ensuring strong competition and fair pricing.

He added that the next stage of the auction, scheduled to take place the day after tomorrow, will involve the assignment of specific lots within each band. Telecom operators will internally decide whether they will take frequencies in the upper, middle or lower segments of the available bands.

Speaking on the occasion, IT Minister Shaza Fatima said the auction marked a major milestone in Pakistan’s telecommunications history. She noted that the process was conducted with full transparency, with all bidding procedures broadcast live from a control room established by the PTA.

She said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed that every detail of the auction be broadcast live to ensure transparency and build public trust.

The minister praised the efforts of the PTA, industry partners, international consultants and the Ministry of IT for successfully organising the auction.

She also recalled that Pakistan first entered the 3G and 4G era between 2014 and 2016 under the leadership of former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, saying those earlier auctions laid the foundation for the country’s current digital progress.

Fatima said the availability of additional spectrum would significantly improve internet speeds and connectivity for millions of Pakistanis, promising better mobile services in the near future.

She added that 5G services will initially be launched in Islamabad and provincial capitals, marking Pakistan’s entry into the group of countries offering next-generation mobile technology.

The minister also acknowledged the role of the Spectrum Advisory Committee, the Ministry of Finance and other government institutions in facilitating the auction process, while thanking the media for supporting the live broadcast of the event.