Ufone and Zong Deposit $30m for 5G Auction

ByFreshBasketFebruary 25, 20261 Mins read44

Ufone and Zong Deposit $30m for 5G Auction Scheduled for March 10

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s transition to next-generation connectivity moved a step closer on Monday as two major telecom operators, Ufone and Zong, deposited the mandatory pre-bid earnest money for the upcoming 5G spectrum auction, scheduled for March 10.

According to sources, both operators have submitted $15 million each to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), bringing the total pre-bid deposits to $30 million. The payments were made ahead of the February 27 deadline, qualifying them to participate in the auction process.

Industry insiders expect market leader Jazz to follow suit and deposit its $15 million within the next day or two, as sitting out of the spectrum sale is not considered a viable option.

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The PTA has scheduled the auction for March 10, with a total of 597 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz bands up for grabs. The government is eyeing proceeds of over $634 million from the sale, though the final amount will depend on competition during the bidding process.

To ensure the auction is deemed successful, the regulator has set a minimum condition requiring at least 50% of the total spectrum—approximately 300 MHz—to be sold. Officials indicate that participation from three operators would effectively meet this threshold automatically.

Following the February 27 deadline, the PTA will publish the final list of qualified bidders on March 3. A seminar for participants is scheduled for March 4, followed by a mock auction on March 5 to ensure a smooth bidding process.

The successful auction and subsequent rollout are expected to unlock ultra-fast mobile broadband, enable low-latency applications, and facilitate the growth of the Industrial Internet of Things (IoT) across Pakistan.

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