5G Auction Postponed Amid Telenor-PTCL Merger Uncertainty

Pakistan’s long-awaited 5G spectrum auction is likely to face a delay of at least four months. This postponement is largely attributed to the Competition Commission of Pakistan’s(CCP) indecision on the proposed merger between Telenor and PTCL-owned Ufone 4G. The uncertainty has raised concerns about how many telecom operators will eventually be eligible to participate in the auction.

Sources within the Ministry of IT and Telecom Pakistan have indicated that once policy directives are issued, at least three additional months will be needed to prepare for the launch of 5G services. However, the advisory committee tasked with overseeing the auction process has not yet convened. Ongoing regional tensions, particularly between Pakistan and India, are believed to be contributing to the delay.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has confirmed that an international consultant has completed a comprehensive report outlining multiple scenarios, depending on whether three or four operators participate. While the technical groundwork is complete, a lack of clear policy direction continues to stall progress.

The federal government had initially targeted a June 2025 launch, but with the merger still under CCP’s Phase II review and the advisory committee inactive, the original timeline appears increasingly unfeasible. PTCL has urged authorities to expedite the process, warning that continued delays threaten national digital development goals.