Pakistan is getting closer to launching 5G services for the public, with August 2026 set as the target date. Telecom companies have already started bringing in the required network equipment and are running small-scale tests at selected locations to check how well the system works before a full launch.
Jazz is one of the main companies getting ready for 5G. The company plans to grow its network step by step — starting from around 150 sites, then expanding to about 1,000 sites, and eventually reaching around 2,500 sites by the end of the year. This slow and steady approach is meant to make sure everything works properly before rolling out 5G across the whole country.
However, most people in Pakistan will not be able to use 5G right away. At the moment, only around 5% of mobile phones in Pakistan support 5G, which means very few people can actually use the new network even after it launches. iPhone users may have to wait even longer, as 5G activation on Apple devices in Pakistan might not be fully available until 2027.
Experts also point out that high taxes on smartphones and the lack of cheap 5G phones in the market are making things harder. Even after 5G officially starts, most people may not switch quickly because affordable 5G devices are still hard to find. For Pakistan’s 5G to really take off, phone prices need to come down and government policies need to support faster adoption.
