5G on the Horizon in Pakistan: How Does the Neighboring Country Compare to India?

Pakistan is gearing up to launch 5G services in the coming months, with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) claiming that 80% of smartphones in the country are already 5G-ready. However, industry experts remain skeptical of this figure. Here’s a detailed look at Pakistan’s 5G readiness and how it compares to India.

5G Launch and Spectrum Auction
The PTA is expected to hold a spectrum auction by the end of February 2026, covering frequency bands from 700 MHz to 3500 MHz. Once operational, 5G users in Pakistan could experience minimum download speeds of 50 Mbps, a significant improvement over current average internet speeds. Mid-band frequencies such as 2300 MHz and 2600 MHz may be used in cities to enhance network capacity and handle high data demand.

Boost to 4G Services
The introduction of 5G is expected to improve 4G services as well. By freeing up spectrum, network congestion will reduce, potentially increasing 4G speeds from the current average of 4 Mbps to 20–25 Mbps.

Infrastructure Requirements
To ensure stable and fast mobile broadband, the 5G auction mandates telecom operators to increase fiber-to-the-site infrastructure from 20% to 60%. Initial 5G rollout is expected in major cities such as Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta, within six to seven months.

Comparison with India
India currently holds a significant global lead in 5G adoption. According to TRAI and the Ministry of Communications (January 2026):

• 5G users in India: ~400 million (second-largest globally)
• 4G users in India: ~700–800 million, rapidly shifting to 5G

In contrast, Pakistan remains largely dependent on 4G, with broadband users totaling approximately 138 million. Commercial 5G services have not yet been launched and are expected only after the spectrum auction concludes.

Average Speeds Comparison (2025–26)

Network	India (Average)	Pakistan (Average)
4G	15–25 Mbps	5–15 Mbps
5G	250–300 Mbps	50 Mbps (PTA estimate)

While Pakistan is taking its first steps toward 5G, India has already established a robust 5G ecosystem, providing significantly faster speeds and a larger user base. The coming months will determine how quickly Pakistan can catch up with its neighbor in the race for superfast mobile connectivity.