Key Takeaways
- The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reported that 3.81 million smartphones are now 5G compatible.
- Local manufacturing of 5G devices is on the rise, with major brands like Samsung and Vivo being assembled within the country.
- Average 5G download speeds in major cities exceed 100 Mbps.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced that 3.81 million smartphones are now compatible with 5G services, marking a significant milestone for the country’s digital transformation.
According to PTA documents, consumers will need handsets that support the assigned 5G spectrum bands to access next-generation mobile services. Some devices may require software updates before full functionality can be enabled.
Local manufacturing of 5G smartphones has gained momentum, with major global brands such as Samsung, Vivo, ZTE (Nubia), Oppo, Infinix, and Tecno now being assembled in Pakistan. Monthly production increased steadily during the first half of 2026, rising from 32,581 units in January to 162,040 units in April.
By May 2026, locally manufactured 5G devices reached a total of 961,326 units. Samsung accounted for the largest share with 396,268 devices, followed by Vivo with 248,508 units, and Infinix and Tecno combined with 216,560 units.
The regulator expects that the growing availability of locally assembled 5G smartphones will improve affordability and support wider adoption of 5G services across Pakistan. The PTA document highlights the importance of local manufacturing in enhancing the country’s digital infrastructure.
Network performance indicators released by the PTA show average 5G download speeds at 135.42 Mbps on Jazz, 133.65 Mbps on Ufone, and 108.66 Mbps on Zong. Early network performance has generally delivered average download speeds exceeding 100 Mbps.
Nationwide mobile quality-of-service monitoring is being carried out using state-of-the-art Rohde & Schwarz equipment to ensure operators maintain service standards as 5G networks continue to expand. Pakistan officially entered the 5G era following a March 2026 spectrum auction, which allocated 480 MHz of spectrum and generated around $510 million in government revenue.
Commercial 5G services were initially launched in major cities including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi. Expansion to additional urban centres is planned in phases.
