ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s 5G phone installment plan has hit a major delay as telecom companies and regulators struggle to finalize a policy aimed at making smartphones affordable for millions of consumers.
A policy proposal designed to let Pakistanis buy high-end smartphones on instalment plans has been in development for months. This issue became more urgent following the auction for 5G spectrum in Pakistan held on March 10, which set the tone for a lot of expectations within the telecommunications industry as a whole. It is anticipated by industry players that the implementation of 5G networks will lead to further growth of 4G mobile network expansion and demand for new phones. But the policy is stuck.
The Instalment Plan Nobody Can Agree On
Sources inside the IT Ministry and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) told Focus Pakistan that despite all three major telecom operators publicly backing the initiative, certain parties have yet to formally submit their response to the government. That gap between public statements and official commitments is creating a bottleneck that nobody in the industry wants to own publicly.
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Jazz has led the charge from the beginning. The operator has pushed hardest for the instalment financing model, arguing it opens smartphone access to lower-income groups and non-earning segments like students exactly the population that 5G promises to transform but currently can’t afford to participate in it.
Ufone joined the initiative early. Zong became the third major telco to sign up just last month, with Sajid Munir, head of marketing at Zong, stating at a recent media workshop that the company had already forwarded its suggestions to the government regarding mobile phone sales on instalments. Yet sources tell Focus Pakistan that both the IT Ministry and PTA are still waiting on Zong’s official response, a contradiction that raises obvious questions.
Jazz President Kazim Mujtaba pushed back against the narrative that this policy only targets the poor. Speaking to media last week, he argued the problem cuts across income levels. Many Pakistanis want a 5G-compatible handset but simply cannot manage a full cash payment upfront a financial reality that affects far more consumers than just the lowest earners.
Mujtaba also called on the government to use Universal Service Fund financing to drive connectivity along Pakistan’s motorway network once 5G launches. He argued that no single company holds a strong enough business case to invest in motorway coverage independently, making USF the only viable path to closing that connectivity gap.
What Happens Next
Pakistan made a bold bet on 5G in March. Turning that bet into real consumer access now depends on whether the telecom industry can move from public declarations to actual commitments and fast.
