Pakistan’s telecom operators have invested $178.57 million in 5G deployment, with 1,136 sites upgraded across the country by June 2026.
Pakistan’s major telecom operators have invested an estimated $178.57 million in 5G network deployment across the country by June 2026, the Senate has been informed.
The figures were presented in a written reply by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications in response to a question from Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri. The data was provided by the respective mobile network operators.
Zong emerged as the largest investor, committing approximately $98.9 million toward the 5G rollout by June 2026. Jazz followed with around $59.67 million, while Ufone’s investment was estimated at $20 million.
No specific FDI target for 5G
Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunications Shaza Fatima Khawaja told the Senate that the government had not set a specific foreign direct investment target for telecom companies as part of the 5G rollout.
She said the Policy Directive for the Spectrum Auction, issued on Jan. 6, 2026, did not require operators to attract a predetermined amount of foreign investment for 5G deployment.
The minister also clarified that the investment figures submitted to the Senate were based on information provided by the operators.
Operators plan further investment
Telecom companies are preparing additional investments in 5G infrastructure during fiscal year 2026-27.
Jazz has projected approximately $30.33 million in additional investment, while Zong expects to spend around $39.9 million on further 5G deployment.
No specific future investment figure was available for Ufone. According to the written response, its projected investment will be shared after completion of ongoing merger-related activities. The government also described Ufone’s previously reported $20 million investment as an estimate.
1,136 sites upgraded to 5G
The Senate was further informed that operators had upgraded 1,136 sites to support 5G services across Pakistan by June 2026.
Punjab accounted for the highest number with 587 sites, followed by Sindh with 262, Islamabad Capital Territory with 192, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 64 and Balochistan with 31. No upgraded 5G sites were reported in Gilgit-Baltistan or Azad Jammu and Kashmir in the submitted provincial breakdown.
Pakistan also had 10,499 fiberized telecom sites, with an overall fiberization rate of approximately 17.2%.
Punjab had 6,153 fiberized sites, followed by Sindh with 2,121 and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 953. Islamabad had 521, Balochistan 417, Gilgit-Baltistan 196 and Azad Jammu and Kashmir 138.
Despite having fewer fiberized sites, Gilgit-Baltistan recorded the highest fiberization rate at 36.3%, followed by Islamabad at 30.4%. Azad Jammu and Kashmir had the lowest rate at 9.5%.
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