Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (retd) Hafeez-ur-Rehman, announced on Monday that the long-awaited auction for the country’s 5G spectrum will take place between April and May of this year.

Speaking at a ceremony attended by Malaysian telecom officials, he acknowledged the existing delays in the rollout of 5G services in Pakistan. The Malaysian representatives, who have successfully transitioned from 5G to 5.5G, shared their experiences in implementing the technology, which the PTA chairman believes will be beneficial for Pakistan as it prepares to launch its own 5G services.

Minister of State for IT and Telecom, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, also addressed the event, emphasizing that Pakistan is making significant progress toward the launch of 5G, with planning and consultations well underway. She noted that the introduction of 5G technology in Pakistan is expected to enhance economic activity and drive digital transformation across various sectors.