ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has received five proposals from international consultants to oversee 5G spectrum auction in country, with process expected to be completed within ongoing fiscal year.

However, industry players have expressed concerns about timing of auction, questioning whether it is the right moment to proceed with 5G rollout. In statement released, telecom regulator announced that it had received technical and financial bids for auction of next-generation mobile services in Pakistan from five international consultants: Aetha Consulting Limited, Detecon Consulting FZ-LLC, Frontier Economics Limited, KomKonsult (Private) Limited and National Economic Research Associates Inc.PTA said that detailed evaluation of these bids would be conducted in accordance with Public Procurement Regulatory Authority rules. Industry leaders argue that base for IT and telecom in Pakistan has not expanded sufficiently in recent years and country faces emerging issue of "Digital load-shedding", where telecom and mobile data services are suspended during electricity outages.  Recent disruptions in internet and mobile data services, along with restrictions on some social media platforms, have further deepened scepticism about future of digitalisation in country. Jazz CEO Amir Ibrahim has been vocal critic of launching 5G in country, arguing that Pakistan has yet to fully leverage potential of existing 4G services.