Pakistan’s Locally Made 5G Phone Count Nears One Million as Samsung Leads Production

Pakistan’s locally manufactured 5G smartphone market has expanded significantly, with the number of domestically produced devices reaching 961,326 by May 2026, according to documents presented by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.

The figures indicate that local assembly is beginning to support the country’s wider transition to fifth-generation mobile services. However, consumers will still require compatible handsets and, in some cases, software updates to access 5G networks.

According to the PTA documents, the total number of registered 5G-capable devices in Pakistan has reached approximately 3.81 million.

The regulator said certain smartphones may require manufacturer-issued software updates before 5G functionality can be activated, even when the hardware is technically compatible with the service.

Samsung leads local 5G production

Samsung emerged as the largest locally manufactured 5G smartphone brand, with 396,268 devices assembled through Lucky Motor Corporation.

vivo followed with 248,508 locally produced 5G phones, while the combined Infinix and Tecno category accounted for 216,560 devices.

Oppo recorded 96,900 locally manufactured units, while Nubia, associated with ZTE, accounted for 3,090 devices.

The combined total across these brands stood at 961,326 devices as of May 2026.

PTA data also showed notable monthly production activity during the first five months of 2026.

Local manufacturers produced 32,581 5G devices in January, followed by 36,306 in February, 76,315 in March, 162,040 in April, and 101,005 in May.

April recorded the highest monthly production volume during the period.

Local assembly may reduce prices

The PTA said that greater local production could make 5G smartphones more affordable for Pakistani consumers by reducing reliance on fully imported devices.

However, final retail prices will continue to depend on several factors, including taxes, imported components, exchange-rate movements, local manufacturing costs, and the pricing strategies of individual brands.

The availability of cheaper compatible handsets is considered important for the wider adoption of 5G, particularly as operators gradually expand coverage beyond initial launch sites.

Highest average 5G speed

The documents also contained early network-performance figures for the country’s mobile operators.

Jazz recorded the fastest average 5G download speed at 135.42 Mbps.

Ufone followed closely at 133.65 Mbps, while Zong posted an average speed of 108.66 Mbps.

The figures reflect average measured performance and may vary significantly depending on location, network congestion, spectrum availability, device compatibility, and signal strength.

The regulator said it was monitoring mobile networks nationwide using advanced quality-of-service equipment supplied by Rohde & Schwarz.

The monitoring system is intended to measure coverage, download speeds, and overall network performance as Pakistan expands its 5G infrastructure.

The rise in local production is likely to support adoption, but the success of Pakistan’s 5G rollout will depend not only on device availability but also on affordable data packages, broader coverage, and consistent service quality.

For consumers, the immediate benefit may be a wider range of locally assembled 5G phones. Whether that translates into significantly lower prices and a better user experience will depend on how quickly operators expand their networks and manufacturers enable compatible software across existing devices.

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