Pakistan to Launch 5G and Satellite Internet Soon, Confirms IT Minister Shaza Fatima

Islamabad, November 5, 2025 — In a major announcement signalling the next wave of digital transformation in Pakistan, Federal Minister for Information Technology & Telecommunication Shaza Fatima declared that the country will soon roll out both 5G mobile services and satellite-internet access nationwide.

Key Announcements

The government will shortly unveil the long-awaited 5G spectrum policy, opening up more than 600 MHz of spectrum for auction to upgrade 3G/4G services and enable 5G.

Satellite communication-regulations have been finalised, paving the way for satellite-internet connectivity to reach remote and underserved regions of Pakistan.

The roll-out is part of the broader “Digital Nation Pakistan” vision, aimed at boosting digital inclusion, connectivity, and bridging the gap between urban and rural areas.

What This Means for Pakistan

Internet speed & access: With 5G, mobile users can expect significantly faster speeds and lower latency, opening up possibilities for smart-cities, IoT applications and high-quality streaming.

Connectivity for remote areas: Satellite internet will allow connectivity where fibre or terrestrial infrastructure is expensive or infeasible — benefitting mountain, rural and isolated communities.

Economic boost: Improved connectivity can underpin growth in e-commerce, digital services, remote work and innovation. The minister noted the IT sector’s contribution has grown to Rs 1.5 trillion.

Competition & affordability: With infrastructure sharing and regulation reforms, there is hope for more competitive telecom services, improved affordability and broader device access through programmes like “Smartphones for All”.

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Challenges & Next Steps

While the announcement is ambitious, several challenges remain:

Spectrum pricing & auction design: The success of 5G rollout depends on rational pricing and incentives for operators.

Infrastructure readiness: 5G requires dense network infrastructure; rolling it out across all regions will be resource-intensive.

Affordability for users: Ensuring citizens can access handsets, data plans and hardware to benefit from 5G/satellite services.

Regulatory and licensing clarity: Especially for satellite-internet operators and cross-border/regional coordination.

Digital divide: It remains critical to ensure rural and marginalised communities are not left behind.