ISLAMABAD, May 7, 2026 — Despite Pakistan’s preparations for a nationwide 5G rollout, Apple iPhone users in the country will not immediately benefit from full 5G services, industry and government officials say.
Telecom operators are preparing to commercially launch 5G services in Pakistan by mid-August this year, following the recent spectrum auction worth $507 million. However, access on Apple devices remains limited due to a combination of regulatory, commercial, and market-related factors.
Officials from the IT and telecom ministry say Apple has not yet enabled full 5G support for Pakistani users and is expected to review market conditions before activating the feature, potentially by 2027.
At present, Apple’s policy is linked to country-specific certifications, carrier agreements, and commercial viability assessments. Pakistan’s relatively smaller premium smartphone market, combined with high import taxes, is believed to be a key factor delaying wider support.
Industry sources also note that high duties on imported smartphones, particularly iPhones, have reduced their market penetration, making Pakistan a lower priority for immediate feature rollouts compared to larger markets.
Meanwhile, Android manufacturers such as Samsung already support 5G functionality on compatible networks in Pakistan, giving them an early advantage as operators begin limited testing and phased deployments.
Telecom companies including Jazz, Zong, and Ufone have already secured spectrum and begun installing 5G infrastructure at selected sites. However, officials stress that the first phase of rollout will mainly enhance existing 4G performance rather than deliver full nationwide 5G coverage.
Experts say another major barrier is device affordability. Only a small percentage of users in Pakistan currently own 5G-capable smartphones, limiting immediate adoption regardless of network availability.
As a result, while Pakistan is moving ahead with 5G infrastructure, full-scale user experience — especially on Apple devices — is expected to lag behind until ecosystem readiness, device affordability, and regulatory alignment improve.