Islamabad, Dec 18: The government has designated 2025 as the “Year of 5G” and set ambitious targets, aiming for an average broadband speed of 50-100 Mbps and expanding Fiber-to-the-Site (FTTS) coverage to 60 percent. These objectives were presented by Amer Shahzad, Director General (DG) Licensing, at the National Broadband Network Forum 2024, organized by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in partnership with Huawei.
Shahzad revealed that the 5G spectrum auction is slated for April 2025, a pivotal step for the country. He further elaborated on the government’s plans, noting that Fixed Broadband (FBB) penetration, currently under 2 percent, is expected to reach 20 percent within five years. Regarding broadband speed, Shahzad set a goal of achieving an average speed of 50-100 Mbps, up from the current average of 15 Mbps. He also acknowledged the challenge of increasing FTTS coverage, which currently stands at 20 percent, with plans to boost it to 60 percent.
A critical element for improving connectivity is Optical Fiber Cable (OFC), which is vital for supporting 5G networks. To meet the growing demand for OFC, the government has initiated a National Fiberization Plan aimed at extending the OFC footprint and improving FTTS coverage. Shahzad also suggested deploying 1 Gbps connectivity in Islamabad as a starting point for nationwide expansion, with a goal of increasing the fiber network from 200,000 kilometers to 500,000 kilometers.
The PTA’s annual report highlighted impressive progress in expanding telecom infrastructure, providing better connectivity for millions. Cellular mobile services now reach 91 percent of Pakistan’s population, and 3G/4G signals are available to more than 81 percent of the country. By June 2024, there were 55,777 operational cell sites, 95.5 percent of which supported 4G services.
These developments have led to a substantial increase in broadband subscriptions, which reached 142.3 million by September 2024, reflecting a 91 percent rise over the past five years. Broadband penetration grew from 32.6 percent in 2019 to 58.4 percent. Pakistan’s international connectivity is supported by an extensive network of undersea fiber optic cables and terrestrial links, including seven submarine cables and the Pak-China Optical Fiber Cable, along with 21 cross-border terrestrial connections.
With a total capacity of 16.4 Tbps, this network ensures reliable internet service and redundancy. The improvement in digital services is evident from a 24.2 percent rise in data usage, reaching 25,141 petabytes in 2023-24 (mobile: 13,021 petabytes; fixed: 12,120 petabytes). Additionally, four new submarine cables are currently under development to further enhance connectivity.
