Pakistan has deployed 1,782 5G sites across 24 cities, with Jazz providing more than half of the reported infrastructure. However, compatible smartphones start at around Rs36,000, highlighting an affordability hurdle for consumers seeking faster mobile internet.
Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja shared the figures in a government reply. Jazz accounts for 1,015 sites, followed by China Mobile Pakistan, operating as Zong, with 640. Ufone has deployed 127 sites.
Jazz’s share stands at approximately 57 percent, based on the reported totals.
Karachi has the largest network footprint by site count, with 385 installations. Lahore follows with 373 and Islamabad with 276.
Faisalabad has 144 sites, Peshawar 122, Rawalpindi 108 and Multan 103. Sialkot has 87, Quetta 65 and Sheikhupura 55.
Jazz leads deployment in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan. Zong has a stronger presence in Peshawar, Quetta, Sheikhupura and Sialkot, while Ufone’s rollout remains comparatively limited.
The 24-city footprint includes Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sheikhupura and Hyderabad. It also covers Abbottabad, Attock, Jhelum, Kasur, Kohat, Mardan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal, Sukkur, Swabi, Chitral and Gujrat.
Operators have launched services or are consolidating their networks in these locations. The figures describe deployed infrastructure, rather than guaranteeing coverage throughout every city.
The minister said Pakistan introduced 5G following a multiband spectrum auction. Operators signed the new Next Generation Mobile Services licences on March 19, 2026.
The government-approved, four-phase rollout began on March 20. Licence obligations require operators to improve existing 4G services alongside their phased introduction of 5G.
The first phase mandates deployment in the federal and provincial capitals. Operators can expand into other cities according to their business models.
All cellular operators conducted technical 5G trials nationwide between 2020 and 2025, according to the minister.
Radio Pakistan reported on March 20 that PTA had authorised Jazz, Ufone and Zong to start services. Operators would publish coverage information and compatible handset lists on their websites.
Local manufacturers assembled 607,093 5G-capable handsets between January and August 2026, the minister said. The cheapest available compatible model cost approximately Rs36,000.
The government gave no definitive timeline for making 5G affordable for ordinary consumers. Instead, it pointed to growing local assembly as a potential route to wider device availability and lower access costs.
Existing 4G-capable SIM cards can support 5G without replacement. Consumers still need compatible phones and network coverage.
Jazz’s official guidance directs users to device compatibility information and coverage maps. Zong also advises checking handset settings and confirms that existing 4G packages work on its 5G network.
