Pakistani operator Jazz has expanded its 5G network to 1,000 sites across 10 cities, claiming the country’s largest 5G footprint as it accelerates deployment following its spectrum acquisition earlier this year.
The Veon-owned operator plans to increase its 5G site count to 2,500 by the end of 2026, more than doubling its current footprint as competition intensifies in Pakistan’s mobile market.
Jazz said the milestone forms part of a broader network modernisation strategy aimed at improving coverage, capacity and digital service quality.
5G network now spans 10 cities
Jazz currently operates 1,000 5G sites across 10 cities.
Jazz GSM president Kazim Mujtaba said the milestone reflects the operator’s commitment to delivering faster connectivity and improving digital services for customers.
The company has not disclosed in the source how coverage is distributed across individual cities or what proportion of its subscriber base can currently access 5G.
Its target of 2,500 sites by the end of the year indicates that the current rollout remains in an expansion phase rather than representing nationwide 5G availability.
Multi-band spectrum supports coverage and capacity
Jazz CTO Khalid Shehzad said the rollout requires a network capable of supporting different connectivity requirements across Pakistan.
The operator is combining multi-band spectrum, advanced radio technology and modernised network infrastructure to improve both coverage and capacity.
Jazz acquired 190 MHz of spectrum across four bands in Pakistan’s 5G spectrum auction earlier this year.
The allocation includes spectrum in the 700 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz bands, taking the operator’s total spectrum holdings to 284.4 MHz.
That mix gives Jazz access to both lower-band spectrum suited to broader coverage and higher-frequency capacity that can support faster 5G services in more densely populated areas.
Rollout follows $1 billion 5G investment pledge
Jazz previously pledged to invest $1 billion in 5G following the spectrum auction.
The company said it has invested approximately $12 billion in its Pakistani operations to date.
The scale of the planned investment suggests the rollout will involve more than additional radio sites alone, with network modernisation, transmission capacity and supporting infrastructure all likely to be important as 5G traffic increases.
Expanding from 1,000 to 2,500 sites within 2026 would represent a significant acceleration in network deployment.
Pakistan telecom market becoming more competitive
Jazz’s 5G expansion is taking place alongside wider consolidation in Pakistan’s telecom sector.
Telenor sold its Pakistani operation to Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited, with the business subsequently absorbed under the Ufone brand.
The transaction has created a larger challenger to Jazz and reshaped the competitive structure of the market.
As operators move deeper into 5G, competitive differentiation is likely to depend increasingly on spectrum holdings, network density, service quality and the ability to monetise higher-speed connectivity through consumer and enterprise services.
