Formal offers were made for the Pakistani 5G auction by these elite international consultants. By April 2025, the government hopes to have finished the nation’s highly expected 5G spectrum auction.
In an effort to help the Pakistani government improve Next Generation Mobile Broadband Services, up to eleven foreign consultants, joint ventures, and companies have submitted expressions of interest (EOIs) for services related to the 5G spectrum auction and IMT spectrum release.
Aetha Consulting Ltd. & Specure GmbH, Coleago Consulting Limited, Communicators Globe (Pvt.) Ltd and Cenerva Ltd, Detecon Consulting FZ-LLC, VTT Global and NE&S, Frontier Economics Ltd., Warm Waters Advisory & Analysis Mason Limited, SAYBi Ltd & Cognitio, Joint Venture / Consortium of Copenhagen Economics, Omnitele, KomKonsult Private Limited, Innovative Auctions and Macmillan Keck Solicitors & Solicitors, Intercai Mondiale Ltd & TEACH were among the foreign consultant firms/JVS.
Eleven EOIs from different reputable consulting firms were received through EPADS in response to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) advertisement that was placed in national and international media and on the PPRA website. Following PTA’s shortlisting of the companies, the consultants on the shortlist will get requests for proposals.
The PTA headquarters opened the expression of interest (EOI) for the consulting services on July 15, 2024, through EPADS, regarding the release of IMT (International Mobile Telecommunications spectrum) spectrum to improve Next Generation Mobile Broadband Services in Pakistan 2024.
In order to ensure competition in the auction process and prevent collusion, the chosen consultant will conduct stakeholder consultations as well as offer the Pakistani government expert analysis and advice regarding the 5G and IMT auction process.
By employing a foreign consultant to handle the release of IMT spectrum for the purpose of enhancing the nation’s Next Generation Mobile Broadband Services, the government has formally started the 5G spectrum auction process.
With due consideration to international best practices appropriate for Pakistan’s economy, society, and telecommunications market, the consulting firms’ terms of reference (ToRs) call for them to develop a plan to maximise the release of IMT Spectrum for the proliferation of technology-neutral Next Generation Mobile Broadband Services.
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Additionally, the terms of reference for the 5G launch and implementation modelling took into account global and regional best practices, specifically with regard to potential use cases for Pakistan, workable best practices for monetization models, and investment-oriented spectrum auction design. This allowed both current operators and potential new entrants to secure the maximum amount of IMT spectrum, which would support enhanced ICT infrastructure and broadband services in Pakistan.
With a focus on the nation’s socioeconomic development, this consultancy will help investors by providing consistent regulations, facilitating the proliferation of mobile broadband, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the telecommunications industry. The goal of the valuation of spectrum for accessible bands is to encourage foreign investment and promote overall economic growth. Relevant aspects such as the influence of previous auctions, international best practices, and renewals are taken into consideration.
The consultant will provide recommendations on necessary policy changes and actions for greater investment in infrastructure, the expansion of broadband, and the sustainability and expansion of businesses and sectors.
They will determine the per-MHz spectrum price for the aforementioned spectrum bands in USD and PKR based on supply-side and demand-side models for the next three years. They will also offer creative payment options such as dynamic or flexible installment plans, scenario-based options for per-MHz price in relation to payment terms, rollout obligations, etc.
Additionally, the consultant will provide a report on spectrum valuation that includes future predictions for the next three years and base prices in USD and PKR for paired spectrum in the 700, 1800, and 2100 MHz bands and unpaired spectrum in the 2300, 2600, and 3500 MHz bands.