Pakistan’s telecom companies are preparing to commercially launch 5G services across the country by mid-August, marking a major step in the government’s push to improve internet speed and digital connectivity. The rollout follows the government’s $507 million spectrum auction held in March this year, where Jazz, Zong and Ufone secured frequencies for next-generation mobile services. Industry officials say telecom operators have already started installing equipment and conducting service tests at selected sites ahead of the commercial launch. According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the government sold 480 MHz of spectrum during the auction, although officials had initially targeted 597 MHz. The auction included two lots in the 700 MHz band, all five lots in the 2,300 MHz band, all 19 lots in the 2,600 MHz band, and 22 out of 28 lots in the 3,500 MHz band. Jazz emerged as the largest buyer, securing 190 MHz of spectrum across multiple frequency bands. A senior Jazz official said the company had already activated around 150 pilot sites and planned rapid expansion in the coming months. “Jazz has launched 5G services at 150 sites and will be able to install equipment at 1,000 sites in the initial phase that will be extended to 2,500 sites by December this year,” the official said. Kazim Mujtaba, President Jazz GSM, said operators wanted a gradual and sustainable rollout strategy. “Let’s be clear; 5G is not about switching on sites for headlines. We’re deliberately piloting with around 180 sites today, and scaling from July as the ecosystem matures,” he said. “We will expand in a phased, disciplined manner, targeting 1,000 sites by mid-August and 2,500 by year-end, but only where it delivers real value,” he added. iPhone users face long wait Despite the excitement surrounding 5G, millions of iPhone users in Pakistan may not access the service anytime soon. Officials from the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication said Apple had informed Pakistani authorities that it would likely enable 5G services for iPhones in Pakistan in 2027 after evaluating the local market. The delay comes as high taxes on imported smartphones, especially premium devices like iPhones, continue to shrink Apple’s market share in the country. Samsung devices already support 5G services in Pakistan, while local manufacturers have also started producing compatible handsets. However, telecom industry officials estimate that only around 5% of mobile phones currently available in Pakistan support 5G connectivity. “This is a big challenge for telecom companies to launch 5G services in Pakistan,” industry officials said. Installment proposal and tax concerns Telecom operators have proposed a new installment-based financing scheme for mobile phones to boost 5G adoption. Under the proposal, users who default on payments could face restrictions on obtaining SIM cards from any telecom operator. Industry officials said earlier installment programs suffered heavy losses due to a default ratio of 30% to 40%. Zong reportedly opposed the proposal, arguing that operators such as Jazz and Ufone already enjoy an advantage through affiliated banking services. Telecom executives also urged the government to reduce sector taxes, saying high taxation was slowing Pakistan’s digital growth. “At nearly 45%, telecom is among the most heavily taxed sectors; yet it underpins the entire digital economy,” Kazim Mujtaba said. “You can’t build a future-ready Pakistan on yesterday’s tax model,” he added.