Hajra Naz
Former chairperson of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, Major General (retd) Hafeez-ur-Rehman, announced on February 17, 2025, that the long-anticipated auction for the 5G spectrum in Pakistan will take place from April to May 2025. This was said during a ceremony that also included telecommunications officials from Malaysia, who now operate on 5.5G. While admitting that there had been holdups around the launching of 5G services, the PTA chairman is confident in proceeding with clear guarantees from the government towards pushing Pakistan’s barriers further.
Malaysia 5G Takeaways
An account of experienced Malaysia telecommunications experts on 5G technology application deployment practices and its transition to 5.5G was sponsored by the PTA. Hafeez-ur-Rehman understood that Pakistan will certainly gain knowledge from the previously mentioned lessons from a country that has already achieved 5.5G. Those will aid in fastening Pakistan’s 5G deployment strategy and position the country for its technological international race.
Government’s Commitment to Digital Transformation
Minister of State for IT and Telecom, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, moreover tended to the gathering, highlighting that Pakistan is getting closer to launching 5G services. She pointed out that planning and meetings are well underway and that the government is centered on guaranteeing the effective rollout of 5G technology.
According to Minister Khawaja, the arrival of 5G will have a significant effect on Pakistan’s economy and will offer assistance to drive the country’s digital change. She said that the spectrum auction would not only resolve existing internet-related challenges but would also significantly improve both 4G and 5G services.
5G’s Potential Impact on Pakistan
Some of the key benefits include:
- Boost to GDP
- Job Creation
- Attracting Foreign Investment
- Industry Revolution
- Better Connectivity
Enhancing Connectivity with Submarine Cables
Minister Khawaja also shared that the world’s biggest submarine cable has come to Pakistan and will soon be operational. This expansion to Pakistan’s telecom framework will significantly improve internet connectivity. Encourage plans include introducing additional submarine cables if essential, to guarantee strong network and support the developing request for information services.
5G Technology Features
- Speed: 5G offers internet speeds up to 100 times faster than 4G, empowering consistent streaming, downloading, and browsing.
- Low Latency: With latency as low as 1 millisecond, 5G will improve real-time applications such as online gaming, video calls, and inaccessible work.
- Reliable Connectivity: 5G will give a more solid network, particularly in densely populated zones where network blockage is a concern.
Looking Toward a Digital Future
The upcoming 5G spectrum auction is not just almost improving internet speed. It’s a key component in Pakistan’s broader vision to position itself as a driving, internet-friendly country. The government is centered on moving forward the network, which will offer assistance to the country to meet its IT export target of $25 billion. Furthermore, the government plans to improve its IT exports from $3.2 billion to $15 billion, advance boosting the digital economy.
Pakistan is moreover centering on utilizing the Wakhan Corridor to connect with Central Asia, clearing the way for way better regional connectivity.
Conclusion
Pakistan has enormous potential for digital change as it approaches the rollout of 5G. 5G innovation is anticipated to bring approximately a few critical improvements, including increased financial development, better associations, and work creation. As Pakistan gets prepared for its first-ever 5G spectrum auction, the country’s advanced future shows up bright thanks to the experience of countries like Malaysia and the government’s strong commitment.
