The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is set to open financial bids for the 5G consultancy on October 3, marking a significant step towards the rollout of 5G services in Pakistan. Sources have revealed that the ranking of the companies vying for the consultancy will be disclosed once the financial bids are opened. While preference will be given to the lowest financial bidder, the final decision will consider both financial and technical evaluations.
Five companies have submitted technical bids for the consultancy role: Aetha Consulting Limited, Detecon Consulting FZ-LLC, Frontier Economics Limited, KomKonsult (Private) Limited, and National Economic Research Associates Inc. These bids were opened earlier this month as part of PTA’s initiative to enhance Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) in the country. The evaluation process will adhere to the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules.
The selected consultancy firm will be responsible for preparing a comprehensive report on the launch of 5G in Pakistan. This report, developed in consultation with various stakeholders, will serve as the foundational document for the 5G rollout. The government aims to launch 5G services by April 2025, with expectations of boosting data speeds, connectivity, and economic opportunities nationwide.
Earlier this year, PTA invited applications for 5G consultancy following approval from the Ministry of Finance. Subsequently, the authority issued Terms of Reference (ToRs) for hiring an international consultant to guide the 5G spectrum launch. Eleven firms initially expressed interest in the consultancy role, and in August 2024, PTA shortlisted 10 of these companies.
One firm, JHK Construction, was excluded from the shortlist after mistakenly submitting an expression of interest (EOI) despite being a construction company. The remaining firms were evaluated and shortlisted based on their potential to contribute to the government’s objective of releasing the IMT Spectrum to enhance mobile broadband services in Pakistan.
