Pakistan has fallen behind almost all countries in the region in the launch of fifth-generation (5G) mobile services, despite the technology being introduced globally as early as 2019. With the exception of Afghanistan, Pakistan remains the only regional country where meaningful progress on 5G deployment has yet to be made.
According to sources within the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the primary obstacle is a severe shortage of mobile spectrum. At present, Pakistan is operating on just 274 MHz of mobile spectrum, the lowest allocation in the region. This limitation is particularly concerning given that Pakistan is the fifth most populous country in the world and has over 200 million broadband subscribers.
Sources explained that the spectrum allocated by the PTA is technology-neutral, meaning it can be used for 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and future technologies. However, limited spectrum availability and the low penetration of 5G-compatible devices have significantly slowed progress toward 5G adoption.
Experts emphasize that 5G is not limited to faster smartphone internet. The technology enables transformative applications such as the Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities, advanced industrial automation, and mission-critical services. One of its key features, network slicing, allows operators to create multiple virtual networks tailored for different use cases, enhancing efficiency and reliability.
Pakistan is already facing a delay of at least seven years in adopting 5G, while countries such as the United States have begun identifying spectrum bands for 6G technologies. In this context, the upcoming spectrum auction is being viewed as a critical turning point for improving the quality of mobile networks in Pakistan.
Government officials and industry analysts note that the planned auction will also be technology-neutral, providing mobile operators the flexibility to deploy spectrum across multiple network generations. According to sources, Pakistan is expected to receive approximately 600 MHz of additional spectrum, in addition to the existing 274 MHz.
The additional spectrum is expected to significantly reduce network congestion, improve service quality, and lay the foundation for the eventual rollout of 5G services—bringing Pakistan closer to global and regional telecom standards.
 mobile services, despite the technology being introduced globally as early as 2019. With the exception of Afghanistan, Pakistan remains the only regional country where meaningful progress on 5G deployment has yet to be made.){kind=link}