On March 19, in a significant advancement for Pakistan’s telecommunications sector, major telecom operators commenced the rollout of 5G services in selected areas across the country’s major cities following the formal signing of spectrum auction results.

This development followed the successful conclusion of the 5G spectrum auction the prior week.

The licence agreements were signed by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Director General Licensing Aamir Shahzad, in the presence of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman.

Jazz has initiated 5G services across 180 sites in key cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan, and Faisalabad. The company highlighted that the new spectrum would enhance speed, reduce latency, and bolster reliability while continuing to expand its 4G network. Jazz, having invested over $11 billion in Pakistan over three decades, secured spectrum across all key bands in the recent auction.

Ufone has acquired the largest share of the 3,500 MHz band and is acquiring Telenor Pakistan to form ‘MergeCo,’ which is set to become the country’s largest spectrum holder. Meanwhile, Zong has launched its 5G services in more than 16 cities and plans to upgrade over 1,000 sites nationwide by 2026.

Addressing the ceremony, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the transparent conduct of the spectrum auction and its benefits for various sectors including agriculture, technology, and industry. He expressed hope for nationwide 5G expansion and emphasized the importance of rapid adoption for the benefit of the youth.

The IT Minister noted that the addition of 480 MHz of spectrum, up from 274 MHz, would significantly improve internet speeds. She reassured that while 5G is being rolled out, improvements to 4G services are also anticipated.

PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman stated that Pakistan now leads the region in spectrum capacity.