Pakistan has introduced 5G services in 24 major cities after a $509 million spectrum auction, as the government steps up efforts to improve internet speeds and expand digital access across the country.
The rollout has covered more than 1,700 sites, with average 5G speeds reaching 130 Mbps. The country has also recorded a 68.1 percent increase in nationwide download speeds over the past two years, Information Technology and Telecommunication Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said.
Speaking at the Global Digital & AI Summit in Seoul, South Korea, the minister said reliable internet access was essential to Pakistan’s digital transformation, particularly as demand for artificial intelligence (AI) and online services continues to grow, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
Pakistan held its largest-ever spectrum auction in March 2026, raising $509 million and adding 480 MHz of spectrum. The move increased the total spectrum available to telecom operators from 274 MHz to 754 MHz, a development recognised by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association and the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity.
The government is also working to bring down the cost of expanding internet infrastructure. Pakistan has laid more than 234,000 kilometres of optical fibre cable, while the removal of right-of-way charges is intended to make further expansion easier and less expensive.
Khawaja said Pakistan’s young population made better connectivity increasingly important, noting that around 70 percent of the population was under 30 and telecom subscriptions had exceeded 200 million.
International links are another part of the expansion. Pakistan is connected to the global internet through six submarine cables with a combined capacity of more than 17 terabits per second. Work is also underway on the CAREC Digital Corridor, which aims to improve connectivity between Central Asia and the wider world.
However, extending coverage to remote areas remains a challenge. The minister pointed to satellite technology, including direct-to-device connectivity, as a potential solution for communities in Balochistan’s deserts and the mountainous regions of northern Pakistan.
The Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board and Pakistan Telecommunication Authority are finalising a framework for satellite communications and licensing. Satellite services are expected to complement existing telecom networks, particularly where conventional infrastructure is difficult to build.
The government is also seeking to improve affordability and encourage investment through a mobile virtual network operator framework and an infrastructure-sharing policy.
On digital inclusion, Khawaja said the Universal Service Fund had extended connectivity to more than 38 million people across 22,100 settlements in over 110 districts. Local manufacturers assembled 17.6 million smartphones in 2025, while instalment plans are being introduced to help consumers afford devices.
Citing World Bank reports, she said Pakistan’s gender gap in mobile connectivity had narrowed from 25 percent to 8 percent. The country also improved its position in the International Telecommunication Union’s ICT Development Index 2026 by 27 places.
Khawaja described universal connectivity as an unfinished commitment rather than a broken promise, calling for greater cooperation and shared investment to bring the remaining unconnected populations online.