Pakistan is preparing to introduce 5G services around Eid ul Fitr as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has finalized arrangements for issuing licenses, allowing telecom operators to start rolling out next-generation mobile networks.
Companies that successfully acquired the 5G spectrum will officially receive their licenses tomorrow, paving the way for the launch of advanced mobile services.
A special ceremony will take place at the Prime Minister’s House, where licenses will be handed over to telecom companies. Invitations have already been sent to the top management of the companies that secured the spectrum.
Shehbaz Sharif will attend the event as the chief guest. Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the PTA chairman, and other senior officials will also be present.
Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb and Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, along with other cabinet members, are also expected to attend the ceremony.
All three telecom companies have submitted bank guarantees of $15 million each to meet the licensing requirements, while technical preparations for launching 5G services have already been completed.
After receiving the licenses, telecom operators will begin introducing 5G services in Islamabad and other major cities. In the initial phase, services will be available in selected areas of large cities, and later expanded gradually across the country.
According to the license conditions, each company will have to install 1,000 new telecom sites, including at least 200 in remote and underserved areas.
The PTA recently completed the 5G spectrum auction, selling 480 MHz out of the total 597 MHz available, which is expected to generate around $510 million in revenue for the government.
