All five international consultants have qualified in the technical bids to provide consultancy services for Pakistan’s upcoming 5G spectrum auction. This auction aims to enhance Next Generation Mobile Broadband Services across the country. The financial bids of these firms are scheduled to be opened on October 3, 2024, as confirmed by official sources. The government plans to complete the 5G spectrum auction by April 2025.
The five firms that submitted both technical and financial bids are Aetha Consulting Limited, Detecon Consulting FZ-LLC, Frontier Economics Limited, Kom Konsult (Private) Limited, and National Economic Research Associates Inc. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) conducted a detailed evaluation of the technical bids in accordance with the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules.
Initially, PTA had shortlisted 10 international consultants, joint ventures, and firms from 11 expressions of interest (EOI) submitted for the consultancy role. Notably, JHK Construction Company was excluded after mistakenly submitting an EOI, as it is a construction firm.
The selected consultant will advise on necessary policy actions and reforms to boost infrastructure investment, broadband proliferation, and the sustainability and growth of the sector. They will compare Pakistan’s current cellular/IMT spectrum assignments with regional practices, identify gaps, and suggest a phased auction of paired spectrum in the 700 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz bands, as well as unpaired spectrum in the 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz bands.
The consultancy will also determine the per MHz spectrum price for these bands in both USD and PKR, with future projections for the next three years using demand and supply models. They will explore innovative payment options, such as flexible installment plans, and provide scenario-based pricing options with payment terms and rollout obligations.
Additionally, the consultant will offer recommendations based on international standards to limit human exposure to electromagnetic fields and propose mitigation techniques for health hazards, particularly in dense 5G networks. A comprehensive report on the valuation of the spectrum, including base prices in USD and PKR, will be prepared with future projections for the next three years.
