Pakistan’s leading telecom operators have expressed strong reservations over the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) proposed framework for the upcoming 5G spectrum auction, cautioning that the current plan is financially unsustainable under existing market conditions.
Industry representatives argue that the proposed obligations would require operators to make massive annual investments in network expansion and infrastructure, in addition to paying high spectrum acquisition costs. The plan reportedly mandates the deployment of hundreds of new cell sites each year, significantly increasing capital and operational expenses.
Telecom companies have highlighted that Pakistan’s low average revenue per user (ARPU), combined with high taxation, rising energy costs, currency depreciation, and regulatory fees, makes it difficult to justify such heavy investments. They warn that proceeding without revising these conditions could strain the sector and delay meaningful 5G adoption.
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The framework also proposes stricter quality-of-service benchmarks for mobile and broadband services, including higher minimum speed requirements for 4G and future 5G networks. Operators believe these targets are unrealistic without broader financial and regulatory reforms.
PTA’s current roadmap envisions a phased 5G rollout, starting from major cities and provincial capitals. Telecom stakeholders have urged the regulator to reconsider pricing, rollout obligations, and timelines to ensure the long-term viability of 5G services in Pakistan.
