KARACHI:
Despite the recent rollout of 5G services in Pakistan, internet speeds remain frustratingly slow in major metropolitan cities like Karachi and Lahore. Even the capital, Islamabad, continues to experience sluggish connectivity. The situation is far worse in peripheral regions such as Azad Kashmir and Balochistan, where reliable high-speed internet remains a distant dream.
At present, the average internet speed in Pakistan stands at 25 Mbps, placing the country at 198th position globally. Telecom experts believe that cellular operators, in collaboration with the government, must devise a comprehensive strategy to rapidly expand optical fibre networks across the country to enable the commercial rollout of 5G technology in major cities.
The government has auctioned 5G licences to three operators, Jazz, Ufone and Zong, allowing them to initiate services in key urban centres. While some operators have conducted limited?scale 5G trials, significant groundwork is still required to launch high?speed broadband services commercially across metropolitan areas.
Optical fibre deployment remains the cornerstone for successful 5G rollout in Pakistan, yet it faces multiple formidable challenges. With only 15?18% of cell sites currently fibre?connected, the country lags significantly behind regional benchmarks, forcing most towers to rely on microwave links that cannot support 5G’s high?capacity, low?latency demands. Right?of?way (RoW) approvals involve fragmented authorities like municipalities, cantonments and development bodies, causing lengthy delays of 12?18 months and high costs, although the recent government abolition of RoW charges on key corridors offers some relief.
High capital expenditure, inflation, low average revenue per user (ARPU) and taxation further discourage rapid investment in trenching and last?mile fibre. Terrain variations, flooding risks and skilled labour shortages for splicing and installation compound execution difficulties, while urban congestion and rural sparsity create uneven progress. Pakistan’s total fibre footprint exceeds 211,000 km, but inadequate backhaul density limits 5G potential.
Addressing these issues requires unified national RoW policies, streamlined approvals, public?private partnerships and targeted incentives under initiatives like the Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP). Without accelerated fibreisation to at least 60% in the coming years, 5G services will suffer capacity bottlenecks, undermining digital transformation goals. Coordinated efforts by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), operators and the government are essential to overcome these barriers for nationwide 5G success.
Shakeel Muhammad, a telecom engineer with extensive expertise in optical fibre deployment, noted that expanding fibre infrastructure is not only capital?intensive but also a complex undertaking for telecom companies, particularly when attempting rapid deployment in densely populated cities. He emphasised that both the government, through the Universal Service Fund (USF), and telecom operators need to make substantial investments in telecom infrastructure, including optical fibre networks and supporting communication systems, to ensure the success of next?generation broadband services in Pakistan.
Shakeel further pointed out that the rapid installation of advanced 5G infrastructure faces additional challenges due to a shortage of skilled and experienced human resources in the telecom sector. As a result, operators may need to recruit foreign professionals from their parent companies or other countries.
Out of a total allocation of Rs141 billion, the government has earmarked Rs35.7 billion for telecom operators under the USF to expand optical fibre cable networks in various regions. In addition, telecom operators have made significant investments to connect their towers with fibre networks. According to the PTA, only 18% of the country’s 58,423 cell sites were fibreised as of June 2025.
Pakistan currently has approximately 234,752 kilometres of deployed optical fibre cable, including 77,851 km of long?haul and 156,901 km of metro fibre. However, experts acknowledge that this capacity remains insufficient to meet the country’s growing digital demands.
Dr Noman Said, an expert in technological hardware, stated that the deployment of advanced equipment at telecom sites will not only attract foreign direct investment to Pakistan but also facilitate the transfer of cutting?edge technology to the country. He emphasised the need for a long?term hardware policy to enable local production of IT and telecommunications equipment, devices and tools. Such a policy would accelerate technology adoption while conserving valuable foreign exchange.
He further noted that the rapid expansion of optical fibre infrastructure is essential for delivering high?speed internet nationwide. This, in turn, would yield multiple benefits, including the digitisation of the economy and a significant boost to IT exports.
Saad Shah, an IT services exporter, stated that Pakistan’s IT exports have shown consistent growth over the years, generating valuable foreign exchange despite multiple challenges, particularly slow internet speeds affecting IT companies. He added that inadequate internet speed often hampers the timely delivery of high?value projects to international clients. “We expect that 5G services will become available in IT parks across different cities, enabling exports to grow at a faster pace than in previous years,” he remarked.
