5G Deadline
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has once again failed to meet its self-declared deadline for the launch of 5G services, missing the June 30, 2025 target — the fourth such delay in a long and frustrating saga that continues to hamper the country’s progress in digital connectivity.
Despite repeated assurances from top officials, including Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja, no substantial progress was made to initiate the long-awaited rollout.
Most notably, the Spectrum Advisory Committee — a key body responsible for deciding spectrum auction pricing and policy — did not even convene ahead of the deadline, stalling any forward movement.
In an exclusive interview with Samaa TV, Shaza Fatima confirmed the delay, citing legal complications and the absence of necessary regulatory approvals as major reasons behind the holdup. She disclosed that the Ministry of IT has formally urged the finance minister — who also heads the Spectrum Auction Committee — to call a meeting now that the federal budget process has been concluded.
“A third-party consultancy has submitted its comprehensive report on the 5G auction,” said the minister. “The findings will be presented during the committee meeting, where the final decisions on spectrum pricing and rollout conditions will be made.”
However, the minister refrained from setting a new deadline, merely expressing hope that progress would accelerate soon. “The finance minister is taking regular feedback on the issue,” she added.
Legal Hurdles and Market Uncertainty
Officials say one of the most significant obstacles to the 5G rollout is ongoing legal wrangling between the government and telecom companies. A court stay currently prevents the auction of 146 MHz out of the 196 MHz spectrum initially earmarked for next-generation services, leaving very little room for a meaningful auction.
Compounding the issue is the still-pending merger between Telenor and PTCL. The deal is awaiting clearance from the Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP), and until that approval is granted, overall market clarity remains in flux.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had appointed an international advisor to recommend spectrum pricing and policy mechanisms. While the report has been submitted, it remains under review and cannot move forward without the green light from the Spectrum Advisory Committee. A final federal cabinet policy directive is also required before any auction can be legally announced.
A Pattern of Broken Promises
This marks the fourth major delay in Pakistan’s 5G roadmap. The initial launch was first promised by then-IT Minister Aminul Haq for December 2022. That date was missed, and a new target was set for July 2023 — again unmet. In August 2024, former caretaker IT Minister Dr. Umar Saif assured the public that 5G would be rolled out, but the promise fell through once more.
Now, under the leadership of Shaza Fatima Khawaja, the most recent deadline of June 30, 2025 has also passed without any tangible progress, reigniting criticism from the telecom sector and digital advocates who argue that Pakistan is falling behind regional peers in embracing next-generation technology.
While the potential benefits of 5G — including improved connectivity, smart city integration, and digital innovation — are widely acknowledged, the repeated delays have cast a shadow over the government’s ability to deliver on its tech promises.
Without a clear timeline, regulatory resolution, and stakeholder alignment, the road to 5G in Pakistan remains uncertain — and painfully slow.
