ISLAMABAD: There are three prominent mobile companies in Pakistan, which plan to introduce their 5G services to the country by mid-August 2026, thus offering a higher speed next-generation mobile internet service to Pakistani citizens for the very first time – however, there is already one problem that stands out as soon as the introduction of 5G becomes imminent in Pakistan, and that is a constraint that will make sure not everyone will be able to utilize this service right away. That is because only 5% of handsets used in Pakistan today are 5G-enabled.
The introduction of the 5G service in Pakistan became feasible owing to the successful conduct of the spectrum auction by the government of Pakistan in March 2026 that generated a total income of $507 million by making available the spectrum of 480 MHz on four various frequency bands, such as 700 MHz, 2,300 MHz, 2,600 MHz, and 3,500 MHz. Despite the auction not meeting the government’s 597 MHz goal, there is enough spectrum to launch 5G by mid-August.
Jazz is ahead of Pakistan’s 5G network deployment race, with 1,000 sites by August and 2,500 by end of year
At the recently conducted auction in March, Jazz became the largest buyer of spectrum frequencies, securing 190 MHz altogether across the four frequency bands; acquiring 50 MHz in 3,500 MHz band, 70 MHz in 2,600 MHz, 50 MHz in 2,300 MHz and 20 MHz in 700 MHz frequency bands. Jazz has commenced providing 5G services at trial sites ranging from 150-180 and plans to take its 5G service network to up to 1,000 sites by mid-August and further to 2,500 sites by December 2026.
Mujtaba Kazim, president of Jazz GSM, emphasized the structured approach towards the rollout process. Instead of making an attention-grabbing switch-on, it was more about building the infrastructure, he pointed out. “We have carefully chosen about 180 sites for our pilot project, which we will start rolling out from July onwards as we build up the ecosystem,” he explained further.
iPhone users in Apple devices barred from Pakistan’s 5G network rollout until 2027
The primary immediate limitation facing the Pakistan 5G network rollout relates to the bar placed on iPhone users. At present, there is no 5G capability in Pakistan for iPhones, which form the premium end of smartphones used in the country. Apple officials have informed the government that they will first assess the size of the market in Pakistan before enabling iPhone users to use 5G from 2027.
This exclusion of iPhone from the Pakistan 5G deployment plan is indicative of a wider trend concerning the relationship between Apple and markets that have been constrained due to high taxation imposed by the governments concerned in the matter. High import duties on mobile phones, especially on iPhones, imposed in Pakistan have severely curtailed Apple’s customer base, thus making it less worthwhile for Apple to prioritize Pakistan in its compatibility list. The Samsung phones, however, support 5G right from launch.
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Lack of 5G compatible devices jeopardizes Pakistan’s 5G deployment potential
Since only 5% of Pakistan’s currently deployed handsets can connect to a 5G network, the Pakistani 5G roll-out is facing the dilemma of “the chicken-and-the-egg” that many other countries face when rolling out their network capacity while their device numbers lag behind. While local manufacturers are already starting to deploy handsets for 5G networks, the time needed for substantial device changes would amount to several years, not several months.
Proposals for a new installments system for 5G phones have been put forward by telecom executives, making it possible for individuals to get devices using monthly installments rather than a full upfront purchase price. The plan features a serious penalty for those who do not honor their installments – an individual who defaults on the installments will be prohibited from getting SIM cards from any telecom company in Pakistan. Previous attempts at an installment plan by the industry were met with resistance by Zong, claiming that other companies, such as Jazz and Ufone, have an unfair edge due to their banks.
High taxes in the telecom sector endanger the Pakistan 5G rollout ecosystem
The arrival of the Pakistan 5G rollout takes place within the telecom sector, which, according to telecom industry players, is one of the most highly taxed sectors in the country. Telecom operators currently bear an effective tax rate of about 45%, placing them at the third position in terms of having the highest tax burden among all the major industries in Pakistan. Recharge taxes are said to be the most conspicuous part of the consumer side of the telecom tax system.
In an interview with The Express Tribune, Kazim Mujtaba of Jazz explicitly states that the current tax system is unsustainable given the Digital Pakistan vision in which the telecom sector is regarded as essential infrastructure and not a cash cow. Industry experts believe that there will be a rapid increase in internet usage within the next three to four years, owing to the increased demand for digital content on apps such as YouTube and TikTok.
