Govt plans to launch 5G services by middle of 2025, says IT official

The government plans to launch 5G services in Pakistan by the middle of this year, revealed Parliamentary Secretary for IT Sabreen Ghori on Wednesday. 

Ghori, speaking during today's National Assembly session, further assured lawmakers that internet speed in the country will see further improvement by the middle of the year. 

The IT secretary also said that “there are several reasons for internet slowdowns” in the country while elaborating upon connectivity and speed issues faced by the general populace. 

The lawmakers maintained that at times internet speeds suffer. "No videos can be downloaded, the internet does not work at all at times," said PPP's Agha Rafiullah.

MPA Shagufta Jumani said PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto was correct when he questioned "which fish are these that only chew Pakistan's internet cables?" 

This promise of 5G internet, however, comes after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in its annual report for 2024 stated that even with rising broadband penetration, Pakistan will have a difficult transition to 5G, The News reported last year in December.

There are worries over the financial difficulties associated with Pakistan's transition to 5G wireless technology, even as the country's use and penetration of wireless telecommunication services, such as broadband and mobile, continue to grow.

Investment in Pakistan's telecom industry has decreased from a peak of about $1.6 billion in 2021–2022 to $765 million in 2023–2024 as a result of the global transition to 5G. Additionally, average income per user has apparently dropped in dollar terms as compared to other comparable nations, yet continuing to increase in rupee terms.

The PTA report also acknowledged the significant financial burden that the 5G transition will place on telecom operators, pointing out that the return on significant upfront capital investments may be gradual and cause telecom businesses to become cautious.