ECC approves 5G Spectrum auction under Digital Pakistan Programme

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved the auction of 5G spectrum under the Digital Pakistan Programme.

Addressing a joint press conference alongside Federal Minister for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb said the cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee had given formal approval for the 5G spectrum auction.

He said the government was continuing measures to advance the Digital Pakistan Programme and was accelerating progress on this front.

The finance minister noted that spectrum plays a critical role in financial and digital inclusion, adding that spectrum remaining unauctioned effectively represents a financial loss for the country.

He confirmed that the approval was granted at the ECC meeting held on Tuesday.

Muhammad Aurangzeb said the Spectrum Advisory Committee had engaged National Economic Research Associates (NERA) as a consultant. Under the supervision of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority and other relevant institutions, NERA carried out extensive stakeholder consultations and conducted a detailed review of previous domestic, regional and international spectrum auctions.

He added that the auction process was designed in line with international standards, based on which recommendations were made regarding spectrum pricing, payment terms and the auction structure.

These recommendations were reviewed from Pakistan’s national perspective, after which the ECC approved them.