Telecom Operators Pump $178.6 Million Into Pakistan’s 5G Expansion

Pakistan’s telecom operators have invested around $178.6 million in the rollout of 5G services, upgrading 1,136 sites across the country as commercial deployment of next-generation mobile connectivity gathers pace.

According to data shared by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, Zong has made the largest investment so far, committing around $98.9 million to its 5G rollout up to June 2026.

Jazz invested approximately $59.67 million, while Ufone’s investment was estimated at around $20 million.

The figures show that operators have already committed substantial resources to network upgrades following Pakistan’s 5G spectrum auction in March 2026.

Zong accounted for more than half of the total investment reported so far, while Jazz also made a sizeable contribution as operators began upgrading existing infrastructure for 5G services.

The ministry said the government’s Policy Directive of January 6, 2026, issued for the spectrum auction, did not prescribe any specific foreign direct investment target that telecom companies were required to meet for 5G deployment.

The investment drive is expected to continue during the current fiscal year.

According to projections submitted by operators, Jazz plans to invest a further $30.33 million during FY2027, while Zong has projected an additional $39.9 million in 5G rollout spending.

Together, the two operators are therefore expected to inject more than $70 million in additional investment during the year, based on their current projections.

The ministry said Ufone’s investment figures for FY2027 would be shared after the completion of merger-related activities.

1,136 sites upgraded nationwide

Mobile operators have so far upgraded 1,136 sites to 5G across Pakistan, reflecting the early phase of network expansion following the spectrum auction.

The upgrades are a critical part of commercial 5G deployment, as operators need to modernize radio equipment, transmission links, core network infrastructure, and backhaul capacity to support higher data speeds and lower latency.

The latest investment figures suggest that Pakistan’s mobile operators are accelerating network spending despite the absence of a specific government-mandated FDI requirement tied to 5G deployment.

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