Pakistan Lags Behind Regional Countries in Launch of 5G Services
Islamabad:Pakistan has fallen behind almost all countries in the region in the rollout of 5G services. While 5G was launched globally in 2019, Pakistan remains deprived of this advanced technology due to a severe shortage of mobile spectrum.
According to sources in the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Pakistan is currently operating on only **274 megahertz of mobile spectrum**, which is the lowest in the region. Except for Afghanistan, there is no other regional country where progress on 5G has not been made.
The situation is considered more alarming as Pakistan is the **world’s fifth most populous country**, with more than **200 million broadband subscribers**.
Sources explained that the spectrum allocated by the PTA is **technology-neutral**, meaning it can be used for 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, and future technologies. However, limited spectrum availability and a shortage of 5G-compatible devices have significantly slowed progress.
Experts note that 5G is not limited to smartphones alone; it also enables advancements in the **Internet of Things (IoT), smart cities, and industrial sectors**, offering wide-ranging economic and technological benefits.
