The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) have launched 5G services in 22 cities across the country.
The officials of the PTA claimed this while briefing a parliamentary committee on the country’s progress in next-generation mobile connectivity.
The update was shared during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications, chaired by Syed Amin Ul Haque.
PTA officials told the committee that 5G services had already been launched in parts of several cities, including Islamabad, where four sectors have been provided with access to the technology.
According to the officials, speed tests conducted in Islamabad’s Sector F-8 recorded internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps.
The authority said that the internet performance was expected to improve further following the planned 5G spectrum auction.
Officials added that the development could also help increase average 4G internet speeds to around 40 Mbps.
Despite the rollout, members of the committee raised concerns over the overall quality of telecom services in the country.
Committee member Sadiq Memon questioned the government’s strategy for improving mobile and internet connectivity, arguing that the benefits of 5G and future technological upgrades would remain limited if existing service standards were not improved.
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PTA officials acknowledged ongoing challenges facing the telecom sector, particularly the impact of prolonged electricity outages on network performance.
They said telecom operators continued to face difficulties maintaining service quality during load shedding, with power outages in some areas lasting up to 10 hours.
The discussion comes as Pakistan seeks to expand digital connectivity and modernise its telecommunications infrastructure, with authorities viewing 5G technology as a key component of the country’s digital transformation plans.
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