5G is Finally Happening: 600MHz Spectrum Auction Dated & Zong Tests 50Gbps E-Band Backhaul

The long wait for a true next-gen network in Pakistan is nearly over. Recent developments from the MoITT and field tests by Zong indicate that early 2026 will be the turning point for local network infrastructure. Here is the technical breakdown of what is coming to our towers and backhauls.

1. The "Green Light" Spectrum Auction (Jan/Feb 2026) After years of delays, the government has confirmed the timeline for the largest spectrum auction in Pakistan’s history.

• The Data: The PTA plans to auction 600 MHz of spectrum. To put this in perspective, the total current spectrum used by all operators combined is only ~274 MHz. This auction effectively triples the available lane width for data traffic.

• The Bands: While specific frequency blocks (like n78 or mmWave) haven't been itemized yet, the MoITT confirmed this auction includes "bands that have never been auctioned in the country before," strongly implying the release of mid-band (3.5 GHz) spectrum essential for 5G rollout.

• Why it Matters: For those of us tracking congestion, this is the hardware upgrade we need. Current LTE speeds are capped by spectral efficiency limits; adding 600 MHz allows for wider carrier aggregation and genuine 5G throughput.

2. Zong & Huawei’s "Full-Duplex" Breakthrough While we wait for the spectrum, Zong is already upgrading the pipes. In a first-of-its-kind field test in Pakistan, Zong and Huawei successfully deployed a Full-Duplex E-band Microwave Link.

• The Tech: Traditional microwave backhaul uses separate frequencies for sending and receiving (FDD). This new Full-Duplex tech uses High-Isolation Integrated Antennas and advanced interference cancellation algorithms to send and receive on the same frequency simultaneously.

• The Result: Spectral efficiency is doubled. The test achieved a transmission capacity of 50 Gbps per link.

• The Impact: This is critical for 5G. High-speed towers are useless if the backhaul (the link from the tower to the core network) is choked. This E-band solution ensures that when 5G goes live, the backhaul can actually support the gigabit speeds promised to end-users.