Jazz has become the first mobile operator in Pakistan to reach 1,000 live 5G sites, expanding its fifth generation network across 10 cities and setting a target of 2,500 live sites by the end of 2026. The milestone follows Jazz’s initial 5G launch across close to 180 sites in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan and Faisalabad. The operator has since expanded its network in those markets and added Sialkot and Gujranwala, taking its 5G presence to 10 cities across Pakistan. The expansion comes several months after Pakistan began commercial 5G services following the 2026 spectrum auction and the issuance of licences by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Jazz officially launched its 5G services in March 2026 after receiving its Next Generation Mobile Services licence from Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. The operator has been expanding its network in phases since then, with the number of live sites increasing from the initial deployment to the 1,000 site milestone announced on August 27.
Jazz’s latest network expansion also forms part of its broader investment plans for 5G infrastructure. The company is targeting 2,500 live 5G sites by the end of 2026, more than doubling its current footprint over the remaining months of the year. The operator had previously outlined plans to deploy 1,000 sites by mid August and reach 2,500 sites by the end of the year as its 5G rollout progressed. Jazz President of GSM Kazim Mujtaba had said earlier that the deployment would take place in phases, with the company importing equipment and scaling up network deployment as the technology ecosystem developed. The latest figure indicates that Jazz has now reached the 1,000 site target, while its next objective is to expand the network by another 1,500 live sites before the end of 2026.
The expansion is taking place as Pakistan’s telecom operators continue developing their 5G networks following the spectrum auction held in March 2026. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has listed 5G coverage information and compatible handset details for operators, with coverage currently dependent on specific areas and network deployments. Jazz’s own coverage information notes that its maps represent approximate outdoor coverage and that indoor availability and network quality can vary depending on location. The operator’s move to 1,000 live sites gives it a larger 5G footprint across the 10 cities where the service has been deployed, although availability remains dependent on individual coverage areas and compatible devices. The company’s stated target of 2,500 sites by year end means the network expansion will continue as Jazz adds more locations to its 5G footprint.
The development adds to the ongoing expansion of fifth generation mobile connectivity in Pakistan, where operators are increasing coverage following the start of commercial 5G services earlier this year. Jazz’s 1,000 live sites currently represent its largest 5G deployment since the service was launched, while the planned 2,500 sites would further extend its network across existing and potentially additional markets. The company has not changed its year end target and continues to aim for 2,500 live 5G sites by December 2026. With the 1,000 site milestone now reached, the focus of its rollout will shift toward deploying the remaining sites needed to meet that target and expanding access to 5G services for customers in the markets covered by its network.
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