Pakistan Prepares for 5G Rollout with Massive Network Upgrades and Fiber Expansion

ISLAMABAD: The government is laying the groundwork for the country’s digital future with sweeping plans to expand fiber networks, boost internet speeds, as authorities work to expedite the highly-anticipated 5G rollout in Pakistan by 2025.

The strategy, aimed at ensuring reliable connectivity nationwide, will see significant investments in submarine cable systems, fiberization, and satellite internet services. Sources at the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) told TechJuice that these measures are part of a comprehensive digital transformation roadmap.

In a bid to ensure seamless connectivity for travelers, national roaming will be introduced on motorways and highways, giving mobile users uninterrupted service during their journeys. The fiber-to-tower ratio is set to rise from 15% to 20%, improving network capacity and preparing for 5G demands.

MoITT sources revealed that 1,600 km of new Optical Fiber Cable (OFC) will be installed as part of licensing obligations, extending high-speed internet access to underserved areas.

Pakistan currently relies on multiple submarine cable systems for international connectivity, with a total activated capacity of 9.281 Tbps. With the growing demand for bandwidth—especially ahead of the 5G launch—the ministry is collaborating with global partners to enhance capacity and redundancy in the next three years.

MoITT confirmed that the country’s internet usage has soared to 1300 petabytes (PB), underscoring the urgent need for expanded international bandwidth.

The much-anticipated 5G spectrum auction is scheduled for 2025, with commercial services expected to follow shortly after. Officials believe this rollout will bring ultra-fast internet, low latency, and new business opportunities, transforming Pakistan’s digital landscape.

However, conflicting reports have since emerged regarding the timeline. According to NERA’s recent advisory, there are concerns about whether Pakistan’s telecom sector is fully prepared for a 5G launch within the proposed timeframe. The report highlighted regulatory challenges, limited spectrum availability, and infrastructure readiness as potential hurdles.

MoITT is also working on a single license regime for Fixed Satellite Services (FSS) to bring satellite internet to remote regions. This initiative aims to bridge the digital divide and provide high-speed internet to areas where fiber deployment is impractical.

To meet rising consumer expectations, cellular operators will be required to raise average 4G speeds to at least 10 Mbps and expand their network reach by 3%. However, challenges like DDoS attacks and excessive VPN usage remain on the radar and require robust solutions.