Pakistan’s journey toward 5G adoption remains at a pre-launch and preparedness stage, though recent policy signals and the proposed spectrum auction have renewed momentum and industry optimism.
Current Status of 5G in Pakistan
At present, Pakistan has not launched commercial 5G services. Mobile broadband services across the country continue to rely primarily on 4G/LTE networks. The absence of sufficient spectrum, limited fiber backhaul, high network upgrade costs, and policy uncertainty have historically delayed 5G deployment.
The country’s major mobile network operators — Jazz, Zong, Telenor Pakistan, and Ufone — have repeatedly stated on official forums that 5G investment is viable only if adequate spectrum is made available at sustainable pricing with long-term regulatory stability.
Which Operators Are Showing Greater Interest?
Industry discussions and social media discourse indicate varying levels of readiness among operators:
Jazz and Zong are widely perceived as the most technologically prepared, given their comparatively stronger 4G capacity, higher data traffic handling, and prior investments in network modernization.
Telenor Pakistan has consistently emphasized that 5G deployment must be supported by a commercially realistic regulatory framework, highlighting affordability and return on investment.
Ufone (PTCL Group) is considered strategically positioned due to its fiber backbone, making it a strong contender for enterprise-grade 5G and fixed wireless access use cases over the medium to long term.
Social Media and Industry Narrative on 5G
On professional platforms such as LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter), telecom experts, engineers, and policy analysts increasingly argue that:
Pakistan must address 4G spectrum shortages first before expecting meaningful 5G outcomes.
The real value of 5G lies beyond speed, focusing instead on industrial digitization, smart cities, healthcare, education, IoT, and automation.
Without strong use cases and ecosystem development, a symbolic 5G launch would offer limited economic impact.
Pakistan’s Global Position in 5G Readiness
Globally, Pakistan remains among countries where 5G spectrum has yet to be assigned. In international comparisons of 5G readiness and deployment:
Pakistan generally ranks between 70th and 90th globally, reflecting delayed spectrum allocation and infrastructure gaps.
Regional peers such as China, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and India are significantly ahead, having already rolled out commercial 5G services.Industry analysts believe that if Pakistan successfully completes the proposed 2026 spectrum auction and ensures policy continuity, the country could transition from a late adopter to a competitive emerging 5G market, particularly for enterprise, industrial, and fixed wireless broadband applications.
