Pakistan’s Mobile Data Usage Surges Before Auction

Mobile data usage in Pakistan has grown significantly, with average consumption now at 8.5 gigabytes per user per month. This trend reflects the country’s increasing dependence on mobile broadband. With the number of mobile subscribers reaching 193.4 million, the government is preparing for a major spectrum auction to expand broadband capacity and support next-generation mobile services.

Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Khawaja, informed the National Assembly that the Frequency Allocation Board has made 567 MHz of additional spectrum available across six bands. This represents a substantial increase of over 200 percent compared to the current allocation.

To ensure a successful auction, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has engaged NERA, a global consultancy firm, to guide policy development, assess spectrum value, and recommend reforms. The auction will be structured to attract investment and promote long-term sector sustainability, with spectrum assigned on a technology-neutral basis for flexible 4G and 5G deployment.