PTA Receives Bids from 5 Foreign Companies for 5G Consultancy:

PTA Receives Bids from 5 Foreign Companies for 5G Consultancy



The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has received bids from five international consulting firms for managing the upcoming 5G spectrum auction. These companies include Aetha Consulting Limited, Detecon Consulting FZ-LLC, Frontier Economy Limited, KomKonsult (Private) Limited and National Economy Research Associates Inc. The auction is expected to be completed by March 2025 and is aimed at expediting the rollout of 5G services in Pakistan. However, the process has faced challenges including differences of opinion within the government and concerns about the country's telecommunications infrastructure. While the IT Ministry is pushing for lower spectrum fees to spur growth, the Finance Ministry has advocated for more competition to maximize auction revenues. Additionally, recent disruptions to internet and mobile data services have raised questions about the 5G readiness of Pakistan's digital infrastructure. Despite these challenges, all major mobile operators in Pakistan have already conducted successful 5G trials. However, an additional 300 MHz of spectrum will be required for the commercial launch of 5G services.