ISLAMABAD: Two leading telecom operators — Ufone and Zong — have each deposited the required $15 million earnest money with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to participate in the 5G spectrum auction slated for March 10, sources told Business Recorder.
The combined $30 million deposit has been made ahead of the February 27 deadline for submission of earnest money. With a few days still left, industry insiders said Jazz is also expected to deposit the required amount shortly, as it is unlikely to stay out of the country’s most anticipated spectrum auction.
Under PTA’s Information Memorandum, each potential bidder must submit $15 million as earnest money to qualify for the auction. The amount will be adjusted against the final licence fee for successful bidders.
According to the auction plan, the government aims to raise more than $634 million from the sale, depending on competition and the final prices discovered during bidding.
The regulator has specified that the auction will be considered successful if at least 50% of the total 597 MHz spectrum on offer is sold — equivalent to roughly 300 MHz.
Officials noted that if three operators take part in the bidding process, nearly 300 MHz of spectrum would effectively be sold automatically, meeting the minimum success requirement.
PTA officials are of the view that participation by at least three cellular mobile operators will promote competitive bidding and boost investor confidence in Pakistan’s digital transformation strategy.
The March 10 auction is being closely monitored by policymakers, investors and industry stakeholders, as it is expected to pave the way for next-generation mobile services, including ultra-fast broadband, low-latency applications and advanced enterprise solutions.
With Ufone and Zong already confirming participation and Jazz likely to join soon, the contours of Pakistan’s 5G rollout are becoming clearer — potentially marking a pivotal moment for the country’s telecom and digital economy landscape.
