Pakistan is accelerating preparations for the launch of 5G services, with local mobile phone assemblers and manufacturers gearing up to ensure wide availability of compatible devices ahead of the commercial rollout.
Officials revealed that around 2 million 5G-enabled handsets are expected to be available in the market by the time 5G services officially launch, supported by government-backed plans to introduce installment-based sales to improve affordability.
As part of early preparations, local assemblers have already manufactured or assembled nearly 0.5 million 5G-enabled smartphones, signaling strong readiness on the device side. The government is actively engaging with manufacturers to ensure that affordable 5G smartphones, starting at approximately Rs30,000, are widely accessible to encourage mass adoption across the country.
According to official timelines, the 5G spectrum auction is scheduled by the end of next month, while commercial 5G services are expected to be launched within the next five months in major cities. Following the initial rollout, services will be expanded gradually to other parts of Pakistan under a phased deployment plan.
To align handset availability with network deployment, senior government officials, including representatives from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), recently held a meeting with the Mobile Device Manufacturers (MDM) Association.
The association represents around 35 mobile phone assemblers and manufacturers operating locally. During the meeting, it was disclosed that five companies, including Samsung, Vivo, and OPPO, are already assembling or manufacturing 5G-enabled handsets in Pakistan, while several others are preparing to begin production.
Officials noted that demand for 5G smartphones was previously limited due to the absence of 5G services. However, with the government now moving forward with the launch, production of 5G devices has gained momentum. Authorities expressed confidence that there will be no shortage of 5G-enabled handsets when services go live.
The government also assured manufacturers of full regulatory and operational support, including facilitation at the import stage and timely issuance of Certificates of Conformity (CoC). Officials emphasized that stable supply chains and regulatory certainty are critical to meeting handset targets.
To ease the financial burden on consumers amid challenging economic conditions, the government formally proposed installment-based purchase options for 5G smartphones. Industry participants welcomed the proposal and committed to ramping up production of locally assembled 5G devices priced from Rs30,000.
Officials stressed that affordable devices, alongside spectrum allocation and network readiness, will be key to the successful rollout of 5G in Pakistan, with close coordination among regulators, operators, and manufacturers continuing in the months ahead.