Pakistan’s readiness for nationwide 5G services has continued to improve, with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority reporting that 3.81 million 5G compatible devices are now registered across the country. According to a PTA document, consumers will need handsets that support the assigned 5G spectrum bands to access next generation mobile services, and some compatible devices may still require software updates before 5G functionality can be enabled.
Local manufacturing of 5G smartphones has gained significant momentum, with major global brands including Samsung, Vivo, ZTE’s Nubia, Oppo, Infinix, and Tecno now assembling devices domestically. Monthly production increased steadily through 2026, rising from 32,581 units in January and 36,306 in February to 76,315 in March and a peak of 162,040 in April, before settling at 101,005 units in May. Cumulative locally manufactured 5G devices reached 961,326 units by May 2026, with Samsung accounting for the largest share at 396,268 devices assembled through Lucky Motor Corporation, followed by Vivo with 248,508 units, Infinix and Tecno with a combined 216,560 units, Oppo with 96,900 units, and Nubia with 3,090 units.
The regulator said growing local production of 5G capable devices is expected to improve affordability and support wider adoption of 5G services, since final retail prices depend on a mix of taxes, imported components, exchange rate movements, and manufacturing costs beyond assembly volume alone. The current monthly output remains below the 553,079 5G devices assembled throughout all of 2025, though industry observers expect demand to pick up as network coverage expands.
PTA also released its latest network performance indicators alongside the device figures, recording average 5G download speeds of 135.42 Mbps on Jazz, 133.65 Mbps on Ufone, and 108.66 Mbps on Zong. The regulator said early network performance has generally delivered average download speeds exceeding 100 Mbps, with significantly higher peak speeds expected as coverage and network capacity continue to expand. Nationwide mobile quality of service monitoring is being carried out using Rohde & Schwarz monitoring equipment to help ensure operators maintain consistent service standards as the 5G rollout progresses.
Pakistan officially entered the 5G era following a spectrum auction in March 2026, during which 480 MHz of spectrum was allocated out of 597.2 MHz offered, generating around 510 million dollars, or roughly Rs141 billion, in government revenue. Commercial 5G services were initially launched in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, and Karachi, with expansion to additional cities planned in phases as both network infrastructure and the pool of compatible, locally manufactured devices continue to grow in tandem.
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