Pakistan Telecom Firms Launch 5G Services in Major Cities After Spectrum Auction

Telecommunication companies in Pakistan have officially launched 5G services in selected cities following the awarding of 5G spectrum licences in Islamabad. The recent government spectrum auction sold 480MHz of bandwidth for $507 million, with Zong acquiring 110MHz, Ufone 180MHz, and Jazz 190MHz. Jazz confirmed its first phase rollout across 180 sites in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Multan, and Faisalabad, emphasising ultra-fast speeds and low latency while continuing to expand its 4G network nationwide. Ufone highlighted its 120MHz acquisition in the 3,500MHz band and mentioned its pending merger with Telenor, which will result in MergeCo holding a diversified spectrum portfolio of 292.4MHz, offering both urban and rural coverage. Zong reported commercial 5G launches in over 16 cities and plans to expand more than 1,000 5G sites nationwide in 2026, noting its pioneering 5G trial back in 2019. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the auction as a significant milestone for Pakistan, highlighting transparency and the positive impact on industry, agriculture, and technology. IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja noted that the auction tripled Pakistan’s spectrum capacity to over 7,500MHz and announced plans for an AI Council to guide national AI policy and development. This marks a major step in Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and technological advancement, bringing faster connectivity and modern tech opportunities to the country’s youth.