ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is gearing up to unveil its long-awaited 5G spectrum policy, marking a major step forward in the country’s digital transformation agenda. The announcement was made by Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima during the 26th meeting of the South Asia Telecommunication Regulators Council in Islamabad.
The upcoming policy will pave the way for the auction of over 600 MHz of spectrum, aimed at improving existing 3G and 4G services while introducing next-generation 5G connectivity across Pakistan.
Fatima also confirmed that the government has approved a telecom infrastructure-sharing framework and finalized satellite communication regulations, setting the stage for the launch of satellite Internet services nationwide.
In addition, a new “Smartphones for All” policy is being finalized to make mobile devices more affordable and ensure digital inclusion across all socio-economic groups.
Highlighting the progress of Pakistan’s telecom sector, the minister revealed that the country now has 200 million mobile subscribers and 150 million mobile broadband users, with data traffic up 70% in the past five years. The sector posted a 17% year-on-year revenue growth, while e-commerce reached nearly $7.7 billion, projected to exceed $10 billion by next year.
