Pakistan’s 5G network has expanded to 1,136 live sites across 23 cities, according to the latest figures released by PTA, providing an updated view of the country’s next generation mobile infrastructure. The data, updated as of August 4, 2026, shows that the deployment of 5G services continues to be concentrated in major urban centers, with Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Faisalabad accounting for 821 sites, representing approximately 72 percent of the national total. The latest statistics also highlight the pace of deployment by individual cellular mobile operators as Pakistan continues to expand its 5G infrastructure across different regions.
According to PTA, Jazz remains the leading operator in terms of 5G deployment, operating 689 live sites across the country and accounting for approximately 60.7 percent of the total network footprint. Zong follows with 338 operational 5G sites, representing around 29.8 percent of the national deployment, while Ufone has deployed 109 sites, contributing approximately 9.6 percent of the overall total. The city wise distribution shows Karachi leading the country with 257 live 5G sites, followed by Lahore with 241, Islamabad with 192, and Faisalabad with 131 sites. Other cities with active deployments include Multan with 85 sites, Rawalpindi with 77, Peshawar with 54, Quetta with 31, Gujranwala with 25, and Sialkot with 13. Smaller deployments have also been recorded in Sheikhupura, Hyderabad, Abbottabad, Sahiwal, Sukkur, Swabi, Mardan, Kohat, Attock, Jhelum, Kasur, Rahim Yar Khan, and Chitral, reflecting the gradual expansion of 5G infrastructure beyond the country’s largest metropolitan areas.
The operator wise deployment pattern also highlights differences in regional coverage strategies. Jazz maintains the strongest presence in several major cities, including Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan, while Zong has established significant coverage in Karachi and Quetta. Ufone’s deployment remains comparatively smaller and is primarily focused on major urban markets such as Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Rawalpindi. PTA stated that it continues to closely monitor Cellular Mobile Operators to ensure that network deployment progresses according to approved rollout plans and that deployment targets continue to be achieved. The regulator also indicated that periodic progress reports regarding 5G expansion will be submitted to the relevant parliamentary committee as the nationwide rollout advances.
The latest deployment figures illustrate that Pakistan’s 5G infrastructure remains in the early stages of expansion despite reaching 23 cities. While operators have established substantial infrastructure in major commercial and population centers, deployment density in many smaller cities remains limited as network expansion continues. The current distribution reflects the industry’s focus on building capacity in high demand urban markets before extending wider coverage to additional regions. As operators continue installing new sites and expanding their infrastructure, the country’s 5G network is expected to gradually extend beyond the largest metropolitan areas. The updated data from PTA provides an overview of the current deployment status while highlighting the progress made by Jazz, Zong, and Ufone in strengthening Pakistan’s next generation mobile network infrastructure across multiple cities.
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