By Muhammad Luqman

The full-scale adoption of 5G technology in Pakistan is expected to take 12 to 18 months, as the technology is still in its rollout phase across the country, according to industry stakeholders.

“We have yet to see a full demand cycle from consumers. Local manufacturers have already started aligning their portfolios, assembling 5G devices, and building readiness for scale,” said Zeeshan Mianoor, Chief Executive Officer of Inovi Telecom.

Talking to Wealth Pakistan, he noted that the real upside would emerge over the next 12-18 months, as network availability improves and consumer adoption accelerates.

“Currently, the share of 5G-enabled smartphones remains relatively small. Such devices account for only a low single-digit percentage of total locally assembled phones, as the market is still transitioning from 4G,” he added.

Pakistan has recently initiated the rollout of 5G technology following the successful spectrum auction. Globally, countries such as China, South Korea, and the United States are leading in 5G deployment, supported by extensive infrastructure and large user bases. Other active adopters include Japan, Spain, the United Kingdom, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Canada. The Asia-Pacific region accounts for over 60% of global 5G connections.

Despite being relatively new, Pakistan’s mobile phone manufacturing industry has made notable progress, achieving a production level of over three million units per month within just five years. This growth has helped reduce the country’s annual import bill by approximately $1.5 billion. Around 29 manufacturing units, primarily located in Lahore and Karachi, are currently meeting about 95% of local demand.

Mianoor expressed optimism that 5G adoption would accelerate with the expansion of network infrastructure and the introduction of more affordable 5G devices by local assemblers.

“The industry is moving in the right direction, albeit gradually. Local manufacturers have already begun assembling 5G devices, and initial production targets are being met in phases,” he said, adding that production scale remains closely tied to market demand.

“As 5G services expand and consumer uptake increases, companies are well-positioned to scale up production quickly,” he noted.

He emphasised that both federal and provincial governments have a critical role to play in promoting 5G adoption by shifting focus from policy announcements to effective execution and ecosystem development.

According to him, the government should ensure a stable and predictable spectrum policy, reduce duties and taxes on 5G devices and components, and streamline regulatory processes.

He also highlighted the need for provincial governments — particularly Punjab — to simplify right-of-way permissions and approval processes for fibre infrastructure development.

Furthermore, he suggested that the government should promote device affordability programmes by encouraging instalment plans, financing options, and public-private partnerships.

Meanwhile, mobile phone traders in major cities such as Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad also report slow adoption of 5G technology, attributing the slow adoption to high prices driven by taxes and duties.

“The demand for 5G-enabled mobile phones is still very low,” said Muhammad Usman Sheikh, Secretary General of the All-Pakistan Mobile Phone Traders Association (APMPTA).

Talking to Wealth Pakistan, he stressed that the government needs to reduce taxes on imported mobile phones to enable faster adoption of the new technology.

He added that most consumers still prefer 4G or even lower-end devices due to limited purchasing power.

Credit: INP-WealthPk