Pakistan has deployed 5G services across 24 major cities, following a landmark $509 million spectrum auction that added 480 MHz of spectrum to the country’s telecom networks. The progress was outlined on October 20, 2026, by Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja during a keynote session at the Global Digital and AI Summit in Seoul, South Korea.
What happened?
The minister told the summit that Pakistan’s largest-ever spectrum auction, held in March 2026, raised $509 million and increased telecom operators’ total spectrum holdings from 274 MHz to 754 MHz, an achievement recognised by the GSMA and the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity. Within six months of the auction, 5G services were switched on at more than 1,700 sites across 24 major cities, delivering average speeds of around 130 Mbps. Nationwide download speeds have risen 68.1 percent over the past two years.
Key details
- More than 234,000 kilometres of optical fibre cable have been deployed nationwide, and right-of-way charges have been abolished to speed up fibre expansion and cut deployment costs.
- Pakistan connects to the world through six submarine cables with combined capacity exceeding 17 terabits per second.
- Telecom subscribers in the country have crossed 200 million, and around 70 percent of the population is under the age of 30.
- The Universal Service Fund has extended connectivity to more than 38 million people across 22,100 settlements in over 110 districts.
- Around 17.6 million smartphones were assembled locally in 2025, and instalment plans are being introduced to improve device affordability.
- The gender gap in mobile connectivity has narrowed from 25 percent to 8 percent, and Pakistan climbed 27 places in the ITU’s ICT Development Index 2026.
- New frameworks are in place for mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and infrastructure sharing to encourage investment.
- The Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board and the PTA are finalising a satellite communications licensing framework, with direct-to-device connectivity planned for hard-to-reach areas such as the deserts of Balochistan and the mountainous north.
What it means for people in Pakistan
Faster, more reliable mobile internet is now a reality in two dozen cities, and the groundwork is being laid for wider coverage. For users, that means smoother video calls, faster downloads, and better access to online services, education, and digital payments. The push on local phone assembly and instalment plans should also make 5G-capable phones more affordable in the coming months.
Source: Original report by Mettis Global News
