Local manufacturers target 2mn 5G mobile handsets ahead of service launch

With local mobile phone assemblers/manufacturers targeting the availability of around 2 million 5G-enabled handsets by the time services are launched—and the government pushing for installment-based sales to improve affordability—officials said preparations were being fast-tracked to ensure a smooth rollout of 5G services in the country.

As part of these efforts, local assemblers have already manufactured/assembled about 0.5 million 5G-enabled mobile handsets, reflecting early readiness on the device side ahead of the commercial launch.

The government is pressing manufacturers to ensure that affordable 5G smartphones, with prices starting from around Rs30,000, are widely available to support mass adoption.

According to officials, the spectrum auction is scheduled by the end of next month, while 5G services are expected to be launched within the next five months in major cities, followed by a phased expansion to other parts of the country.

Read more: 5G rollout set for major cities by next year, says IT minister

To align handset availability with network deployment, senior government officials, including representatives of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), held a meeting with the Mobile Device Manufacturers (MDM) Association, which represents around 35 mobile phone assemblers and manufacturers operating in Pakistan.

The meeting was informed that five companies including Samsung, Vivo, OPPO are already assembling/manufacturing 5G enabled handsets while other companies are all set to initiate work in this regard.

In the absence of 5G services, earlier there was no demand for 5G enabled handsets, however as the government has all set to initiate the services, work on such handsets were started and gaining momentum.

By the time 5G services are launched in the country, there would be no dearth of 5G enabled handsets in the market, official sources added.

During the meeting, the government assured the industry of full support in resolving regulatory and operational hurdles, including facilitation at the import stage and timely issuance of Certificates of Conformity (CoC).

Also read: Will 5G actually improve internet access for ordinary Pakistanis?

Officials emphasised that uninterrupted supply chains and regulatory certainty would be crucial to meeting handset targets ahead of the 5G launch.

The government also formally proposed that manufacturers introduce installment-based purchase options to ease the financial burden on consumers amid tight economic conditions.

Participants welcomed the proposal and assured the authorities that they would roll out locally assembled 5G handsets starting from Rs30,000, while ramping up production to meet expected demand.

Officials stressed that ensuring the availability of affordable devices, alongside spectrum allocation and network preparedness, remains central to the success of Pakistan’s 5G rollout, adding that close coordination between regulators, operators and manufacturers will continue in the coming months.