Pakistan deploys 1,782 5G sites in 24 cities

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has deployed 1,782 5G sites across 24 cities, with Jazz accounting for more than half of the total infrastructure, while the cheapest locally available 5G-compatible handset costs around Rs36,000, highlighting the affordability challenge for wider adoption of next-generation mobile services.

According to details shared by Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Jazz has deployed 1,015 sites, China Mobile Pakistan (Zong) 640 and Ufone 127.

The minister said 5G technology was introduced in the country following a multiband spectrum auction, with licences signed on March 19, 2026. The rollout obligations, incorporated into the new Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) licences, aim to improve existing 4G services alongside the phased introduction of 5G.

The rollout began on March 20, 2026, under a four-phase plan approved by the federal government.

The 24 cities where 5G services have been launched or are being consolidated include Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Hyderabad, Abbottabad, Attock, Jhelum, Kasur, Kohat, Mardan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal, Sukkur, Swabi, Chitral and Gujrat.

Karachi has the highest number of deployed 5G sites at 385, followed by Lahore with 373 and Islamabad with 276. Faisalabad has 144 sites, Peshawar 122, Rawalpindi 108, Multan 103, Sialkot 87, Quetta 65 and Sheikhupura 55.

Jazz leads deployment in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan, while Zong has a stronger presence in Peshawar, Quetta, Sheikhupura and Sialkot. Ufone’s deployment remains comparatively limited, with 127 sites across the 24 cities.

The minister said all cellular mobile operators had conducted technical 5G trials nationwide between 2020 and 2025. Under the rollout obligations, deployment in federal and provincial capitals is mandatory during the first phase, while operators may expand services to other cities according to their respective business models.

The government has not specified a definitive timeline in the reply for making 5G services affordable for ordinary consumers. However, it pointed to the increasing availability of locally assembled 5G-compatible smartphones as a factor that could help reduce the cost of access.

According to the minister, 607,093 5G-capable handsets were locally assembled between January and August 2026, while the cheapest currently available compatible handset was priced at approximately Rs36,000.

The minister clarified that users with existing 4G-capable SIM cards do not need to replace their SIMs to use 5G services. However, consumers must have compatible handsets and access to deployed 5G network coverage to benefit from the technology.

The growing local handset assembly ecosystem is expected to improve the availability of compatible devices and support affordability over time.

The rollout represents a significant step in Pakistan’s transition towards faster mobile broadband connectivity. However, the limited geographical footprint and cost of compatible smartphones remain key considerations for expanding access beyond major urban centres and making the technology accessible to a broader segment of the population.