Pakistan has fallen behind almost all countries in its region in the rollout of fifth-generation (5G) mobile services, according to official and industry sources. While 5G networks began launching globally as early as 2019, Pakistan has yet to introduce commercial 5G services, largely due to a critical shortage of mobile spectrum.
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The delay has raised concerns among policymakers, technology experts, and businesses. This is especially worrying given Pakistan’s large population and rapidly growing demand for high-speed internet connectivity.
Global 5G Rollout and Pakistan’s Position
Around the world, 5G services started becoming available in 2019. Since then, dozens of countries have launched commercial networks. These include both developed and developing economies.
In South Asia and the wider region, almost every country has made some progress on 5G. Afghanistan remains the only exception. Pakistan, however, continues to lag behind despite its market size and user base.
Industry observers say the delay is not due to a lack of demand. Instead, it reflects structural and regulatory challenges that have yet to be resolved.
Acute Spectrum Shortage
According to sources within the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the country is currently operating on just 274 megahertz of mobile spectrum. This is one of the lowest allocations in the region.
Mobile spectrum is a critical resource for wireless communication. Without sufficient spectrum, operators cannot deliver high-speed and reliable services. This limitation directly affects the rollout of advanced technologies such as 5G.
By comparison, many countries have allocated significantly larger spectrum blocks to support modern mobile networks. As a result, their operators can offer faster speeds and lower latency.
A Large Market with Growing Demand
The situation becomes more concerning when Pakistan’s demographics are considered. Pakistan is the world’s fifth most populous country. It has a population of more than 240 million people.
At the same time, the country has over 200 million broadband users. Mobile broadband is the primary means of internet access for most citizens.
This combination of high population and strong demand makes Pakistan a potentially attractive market for advanced mobile services. However, limited spectrum availability continues to act as a major bottleneck.
Technology-Neutral Spectrum Policy
PTA sources explained that the spectrum issued by the regulator is technology-neutral. This means it can be used for 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G services. Future technologies could also operate on the same spectrum.
In theory, this policy gives operators flexibility. In practice, however, the total amount of available spectrum remains insufficient. As a result, operators struggle to upgrade networks while maintaining existing services.
Another challenge is the limited availability of 5G-compatible devices in the local market. High handset prices and low affordability have slowed consumer adoption.
Why 5G Matters Beyond Smartphones
Experts stress that 5G is not just about faster smartphones. The technology is expected to transform entire sectors of the economy.
5G enables the Internet of Things, or IoT, allowing devices to communicate in real time. It also supports smart cities, automated transport, and advanced healthcare systems.
In the industrial sector, 5G can improve efficiency through automation and remote monitoring. Manufacturing, energy, and logistics can all benefit from ultra-low latency connections.
Without 5G, Pakistan risks falling further behind in digital competitiveness. This could affect economic growth and innovation over the long term.
The Road Ahead
For Pakistan to move forward, experts say timely spectrum auctions are essential. Clear policy direction and investor confidence are also needed.
Additionally, efforts must be made to improve device affordability. Public awareness about the benefits of 5G will also play a role.
Until these issues are addressed, Pakistan is likely to remain on the sidelines of the global 5G revolution. For a country with such vast digital potential, the cost of delay could be significant.
