Pakistan is preparing for a nationwide commercial launch of 5G services by mid-August, as telecom operators complete equipment procurement and begin limited testing across selected sites. However, industry officials warn that device compatibility remains a major challenge, as only a small percentage of mobile handsets currently support the new technology.
According to telecom sources, operators have already initiated early 5G trials at around 150 locations, where infrastructure has been installed and tested for initial performance. Moreover, companies plan to gradually expand coverage to 1,000 sites in the first phase and later scale up to 2,500 sites by the end of December this year.
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Meanwhile, officials at the IT and telecom ministry confirmed that Apple has not yet enabled 5G support for iPhones in Pakistan. The company reportedly informed authorities that activation may only occur by 2027 after reviewing the country’s market size and commercial potential for advanced network services.
Furthermore, industry experts highlighted that high import taxes on smartphones, especially iPhones, have limited Apple’s market share in Pakistan. As a result, most current 5G-compatible devices in the country belong to other manufacturers such as Samsung, while overall handset compatibility remains close to just 5 percent.
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Additionally, telecom operators have proposed a government-supported instalment plan to improve access to 5G-enabled smartphones across the country. However, past attempts at similar financing models faced high default rates of 30 to 40 percent, raising concerns among operators about financial risks and enforcement challenges.
Moreover, the government recently completed a major spectrum auction, generating 507 million dollars from the sale of 480 MHz bandwidth. Leading telecom operators including Jazz, Zong, and Ufone secured key frequencies, with Jazz emerging as the largest buyer, positioning the sector for gradual expansion of next-generation mobile connectivity across Pakistan.