The 5G transition

Pakistan was always going to face a complicated transition to 5G. The problem with realising the promise of new technologies that make life better in Pakistan is that the country often lacks the infrastructure needed to adopt them, at least in a timely fashion. When much of the world had moved on to 4G, most of Pakistan was still stuck with 3G for years longer than it should have been. The country’s 5G journey now seems to be heading in a similar direction. This week, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications on preparedness for the 5G auction, told the committee that 5G requires more spectrum and lacunas concerning the 5G auction will be sorted out soon. Some reports have also claimed that the auction process also requires a policy directive from the government, with bureaucratic holdups forming another layer of delays when it comes to new tech. And while the planned offering of the 5G spectrum is still reportedly slated for as early as this May or June, IT ministry officials have told the Senate Committee that not all people will switch to 5G even after it is launched, at least not at once.

While it is not unusual for the majority to not switch to a new technology all at once, exactly how long the switch will take remains unclear. Aside from the issues aired in the Senate, the country faces other barriers to a seamless 5G transition. The PTA’s 2024 annual report, released back in December 2024, highlighted concerns about the financial challenges that come with the country’s transition to 5G wireless technology. The global shift towards 5G has coincided with a decline in investment in the Pakistan telecom sector. According to experts, this will impact the ability to generate investment for large-scale projects like 5G that require significant capital. The investment problem is only exacerbated by the fact that returns on any investment in 5G could take a long time to materialise, making companies cautious in their approach. Then there is the lack of 5G-enabled mobile devices in Pakistan, a market where cheaper mobile options have thrived. The PTA report also pointed to the urban-rural digital divide as a potential challenge, with rural internet users often having to endure slower speeds and more unreliable services under the current system.

An urban-centric 5G rollout would only exacerbate this divide. One way around these many problems would be for the state to back the 5G transition by investing heavily in the buildup of the required infrastructure. However, there is no infrastructure in this country that does not desperately require more state funds. And with a state barely managing to scrape together revenues to pay off its debts, speedy transitions to new technologies remain an uphill battle. Perhaps, one ought to simply be grateful for the fact that Pakistan is not further behind in the move to 5G, with most other developing countries also still in the initial stages. Even reaching the starting line, under the current circumstances, is nothing to scoff at.