Pakistan’s 5G Launch Faces Yet Another Delay

Pakistan has once again failed to meet its deadline for introducing 5G services by 30th June 2025. It’s the fourth time the country has missed the launch deadline since 2022. Despite multiple promises, the government is unable to launch 5G services due to some legal and regulatory hurdles that continue to delay progress.

Federal IT Minister Shaza Khawaja recently reported that the long-awaited Spectrum Auction Committee meeting has yet to take place. This meeting is important, as it will determine the pricing and terms for auctioning the 5G spectrum.

The setback in launching 5G services across Pakistan is primarily due to the current legal dispute between telecom operators and the state. Most of the spectrum that was going to be auctioned has been frozen by court orders.

In addition to that, the approval for the Telenor and PTCL.Official merger is still pending with the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), which also created uncertainty. Though a consultancy company has presented a report for the auction of 5G, nothing has been decided. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has not yet received policy guidance from the federal cabinet before it can proceed.