Pakistan has deployed 1,782 5G sites across 24 cities, with Jazz leading the rollout with 1,015 sites. However, the cost of compatible smartphones remains a major barrier to wider adoption, as the cheapest locally available 5G handset costs around Rs36,000.
According to figures shared by IT and Telecommunication Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Zong has deployed 640 sites, while Ufone accounts for 127. The rollout follows a multiband spectrum auction, with operators signing their licences on March 19, 2026.
Commercial deployment began on March 20, 2026, under a four-phase plan approved by the federal government. The new Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) licences also require operators to improve existing 4G services alongside the phased expansion of 5G networks.
The rollout covers Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Hyderabad, Abbottabad, Attock, Jhelum, Kasur, Kohat, Mardan, Rahim Yar Khan, Sahiwal, Sukkur, Swabi, Chitral and Gujrat.
Karachi leads the deployment with 385 sites, followed by Lahore with 373 and Islamabad with 276. Faisalabad has 144 sites, Peshawar 122, Rawalpindi 108 and Multan 103. Sialkot has 87 sites, Quetta 65 and Sheikhupura 55.
Jazz has the strongest presence in Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad and Multan. Meanwhile, Zong leads in deployment across Peshawar, Quetta, Sheikhupura and Sialkot. Ufone’s network remains smaller, with 127 sites spread across the 24 cities.
The minister said all cellular operators had conducted technical 5G trials across Pakistan between 2020 and 2025. Under the rollout plan, operators must deploy services in federal and provincial capitals during the first phase. They can then expand coverage to other cities based on their business plans.
However, the government has not provided a firm timeline for making 5G services affordable for ordinary consumers. Instead, it has pointed to local smartphone assembly as one way to improve access to compatible devices and lower costs over time.
According to the minister, Pakistan locally assembled 607,093 5G-capable handsets between January and August 2026. The cheapest compatible handset currently available costs approximately Rs36,000, which could still put the technology beyond the reach of many consumers.
Existing 4G SIM cards do not need to be replaced to access 5G services, the minister clarified. However, users must have a compatible smartphone and be within an area covered by a deployed 5G network.
Pakistan’s 5G rollout marks an important step towards faster mobile internet. Still, the limited network footprint and high cost of compatible smartphones remain key challenges. Wider coverage and more affordable devices will be important to bringing next-generation connectivity to more people across the country.
