Pakistan’s nationwide rollout of 5G mobile services could take another two years, the government has informed the National Assembly, as concerns continue over slow internet speeds, limited network coverage and the reliability of existing mobile services.
The timeline was shared during Question Hour on Friday, when lawmakers raised questions about the state of telecommunications in the country and the challenges faced by mobile internet users.
Parliamentary Secretary for Information Technology Sabeen Ghouri told the assembly that 5G services were currently available in 24 cities across Pakistan. She said efforts were underway to improve connectivity before expanding the next-generation mobile network to more areas.
The government’s statement suggests that extending 5G coverage nationwide will require additional time, infrastructure development and improvements to existing telecommunications services.
The rollout is being closely watched as consumers, businesses and digital service providers increasingly depend on reliable internet access for communication, online transactions, education and daily operations.
However, internet users in Pakistan continue to raise concerns about slow speeds, inconsistent signals and limited coverage in several locations. These issues have also prompted questions from lawmakers about the performance of existing mobile networks and the pace of improvements.
Expanding 5G services beyond the cities where they are currently available will require telecommunications operators to extend network infrastructure and strengthen connectivity in additional regions. The availability and quality of service may also differ between urban centres and less densely populated areas.
The technology is expected to support faster data transfer, lower network latency and improved capacity compared with earlier generations of mobile connectivity. These features could benefit activities such as video streaming, cloud-based services, online gaming and other data-intensive applications.
For businesses, wider 5G access could create opportunities to adopt more advanced digital tools and improve the delivery of online services. Better connectivity may also support Pakistan’s expanding digital economy, particularly sectors that rely on stable and high-speed internet connections.
Despite these potential benefits, the government’s latest statement indicates that nationwide availability remains a longer-term objective rather than an immediate development.
The announcement also highlights the importance of improving the overall quality of mobile services while the country works toward broader 5G coverage. For many consumers, dependable internet access remains a priority alongside the introduction of newer network technology.
With the government indicating that the nationwide rollout could take another two years, attention will remain on the expansion of services, improvements in network performance and the availability of reliable connectivity across Pakistan.