Pakistan’s 5G adoption is gaining momentum, with the number of users reaching 1.8 million, marking a significant milestone in the country’s transition towards next-generation mobile connectivity.
The growing user base comes just months after Pakistan launched commercial 5G services in March 2026, following a major spectrum auction aimed at improving internet speeds, network capacity and digital connectivity.
The expansion reflects increasing consumer interest in faster mobile internet, although affordable 5G smartphones, wider network coverage and service quality remain important factors in accelerating adoption.
The figure was shared by Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja during a briefing to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology on Tuesday.
According to details presented to the committee, 5G services are now available across 24 major cities, supported by an expanding network of 1,782 operational sites.
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5G Network Expands Across 24 Cities
The government has been expanding 5G infrastructure through cellular operators Jazz, Zong and Ufone.
According to figures shared by the IT minister on October 23, Jazz has deployed 1,015 sites, Zong 640 and Ufone 127.
Karachi leads the deployment with 385 sites, followed by Lahore with 373 and Islamabad with 276. Faisalabad has 144 sites, Peshawar 122, and Rawalpindi 108.
Pakistan launched its commercial 5G services in March 2026 after conducting its largest-ever spectrum auction, which raised approximately $509 million and added 480 MHz of spectrum to the country’s telecom infrastructure.
Affordable Smartphones Remain a Challenge
Despite the growing network, the affordability of compatible smartphones remains a major hurdle to wider 5G adoption.
The government has previously reported that the cheapest locally available 5G-compatible smartphone costs around Rs36,000.
Consumers do not need to replace their existing 4G SIM cards to access 5G services. However, they must have a compatible smartphone and be within an area covered by their operator’s 5G network
Source: https://bloompakistan.com/pakistan-5g-users-cross-1-8-million/
