Earlier this year, the government paved the way for the commercial launch of next-generation mobile services in Pakistan. Following the 5G spectrum auction in March 2026, telecom operators have aggressively expanded their networks. According to recent data shared by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), telecom operators have already poured $178.6 million into the country’s 5G rollout.
Consequently, mobile operators have successfully upgraded a total of 1,136 sites to 5G across Pakistan. This rapid development highlights a strong commitment to improving national connectivity.
Telecom Operators Investments for 5G Rollout
The Ministry’s data provides a clear breakdown of how much each major telecom company spent up to June 2026. Zong currently leads the pack in infrastructure spending, followed closely by Jazz and Ufone.
Furthermore, operators have already outlined their investment projections for the upcoming fiscal year (FY2027). Ufone stands as the only exception here. The ministry noted that Ufone will share its FY2027 investment data only after it completes its ongoing merger-related activities.
Here is a detailed look at the current $178.6 million 5G rollout investments and the projected future investments:
| Telecom Operator | Investment (Up to June 2026) | Projected Investment (FY2027) |
| Zong | $98.9 million | $39.9 million |
| Jazz | $59.67 million | $30.33 million |
| Ufone | ~$20 million | Pending (Awaiting merger completion) |
No Government-Mandated FDI Targets
Interestingly, the massive influx of capital into the telecom sector comes without strict government pressure. The government issued its Policy Directive for the spectrum auction on January 6, 2026. However, this directive did not set any specific target for telecom companies to bring in foreign direct investment (FDI) for the 5G rollout.
Despite the total absence of a mandated FDI target, operators are still making substantial investments on their own accord.
While the initial rollout numbers look promising, the government is still tracking granular infrastructure updates. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication is actively compiling province-wise data. This upcoming dataset will detail exactly which sites feature fibre connectivity (FTTS) and 5G upgrades at the provincial level.
