Parliamentary Secretary for IT Sabreen Ghori announced on Wednesday that the government aims to introduce 5G services in Pakistan by mid-2025.
While addressing the National Assembly session, Ghori assured lawmakers that internet speed issues will be resolved, and people will experience improvement by the middle of the year.
She explained that there are several reasons for internet slowdowns, addressing concerns about connectivity and speed issues affecting citizens.
During the session, PPP’s Agha Rafiullah pointed out that at times, internet speeds become so slow that videos cannot be downloaded, and sometimes, the internet stops working completely.
MPA Shagufta Jumani also commented on the issue, referring to PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s remark where he humorously questioned, “Which fish are these that only chew Pakistan’s internet cables?”
Despite this promise of 5G internet, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), in its 2024 annual report, had stated that Pakistan could face challenges in transitioning to 5G.
Investment in Pakistan’s telecom sector has dropped from $1.6 billion in 2021-22 to $765 million in 2023-24, largely due to the global transition to 5G.
The PTA report also highlighted the significant financial burden associated with shifting to 5G, stating that telecom companies may be cautious due to the large upfront investments required and the slow return on investment.
