Key Takeaways
- Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has launched 5G services in 22 cities.
- No new infrastructure has been deployed yet, relying on existing mobile towers.
- Committee raises concerns over slow internet speeds and frequent connectivity issues.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) informed a parliamentary panel that 5G services have been launched in 22 cities under the initial rollout phase. However, no new infrastructure has yet been deployed, with services currently enabled through existing mobile towers and network infrastructure.
Briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, PTA Chairman highlighted that dedicated new infrastructure will be gradually installed in subsequent phases, expected to improve internet speed and service quality over the next six to eight months. This move comes as a response to the poor state of internet and mobile services observed by the committee, which has expressed serious concern about connectivity issues affecting major urban centers including Karachi.
Committee Chairman Syed Amin-ul-Haq emphasized that while 5G technology promises significant improvements, current service quality remains subpar. Members noted slow internet speeds and frequent call failures despite multiple attempts to connect. PTA officials informed the committee that Pakistan’s total available spectrum has increased from 274 MHz to 754 MHz following the 5G spectrum auction, significantly expanding network capacity.
Despite these advancements, prolonged electricity load shedding remains a major impediment to reliable telecom services. The PTA chairman reported power outages of up to 10 hours a day in certain areas, adversely affecting mobile towers and disrupting broadband and cellular connectivity. He stated that the issue has been taken up with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and relevant power distribution companies, while Prime Minister Imran Khan had constituted a high-level committee to devise a sustainable mechanism for uninterrupted electricity supply to telecom towers.
The parliamentary panel recommended the use of alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power for telecom infrastructure. It directed the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication to encourage telecom operators to gradually install renewable energy systems at telecom sites, aiming to reduce dependence on diesel, curb theft, and attract private investment in more resilient telecommunications infrastructure.
Separately, the committee was informed that around 92 per cent of smartphones currently used in Pakistan are locally manufactured or assembled, while only eight per cent are imported, primarily Apple iPhones and Google Pixel devices. The PTA chairman said most other mobile phone brands are being assembled locally and are therefore not subject to import duties applicable to imported devices.
The committee directed the ministry to encourage major global smartphone manufacturers like Apple to establish local manufacturing or assembly facilities in Pakistan to make devices more affordable, attract investment, and generate employment. Clarifying the taxation mechanism for imported mobile phones, the PTA chairman stated that the regulator does not collect mobile phone taxes; such taxes are deposited with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), while PTA’s role is limited to registering and whitelisting tax-paid devices through the Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS).
The services have initially been enabled through existing mobile towers and network infrastructure.
PTA Chairman, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority
Committee, chaired by Syed Amin-ul-Haq, expressed serious concern over the poor state of internet and mobile services.
Committee members, National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication
