The government has declared 2025 as the “Year of 5G,” unveiling an ambitious plan to achieve an average broadband speed of 50/100 Mbps and expand Fibre-To-The-Site (FTTS) coverage to 60%.

This announcement was made by Director General of Licensing, Amer Shahzad, during the National Broadband Network Forum 2024, organized by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in collaboration with Huawei.

Shahzad revealed that the auction for 5G spectrum is anticipated to take place in April 2025, which he deemed a significant milestone for the country. Currently, Fixed Broadband (FBB) penetration stands at less than 2%, but the government aims to increase this figure to 20% within the next five years.

The current average broadband speed is around 15 Mbps, but the goal is to elevate it to between 50 and 100 Mbps. Shahzad acknowledged the challenge posed by the current FTTS coverage of only 20%, emphasizing plans to boost it to 60%.

To address the digital divide and support 5G networks, the government is focusing on expanding the Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) network. A National Fiberization Plan has been initiated to enhance the OFC footprint and FTTS penetration.

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Additionally, Shahzad proposed the deployment of 1 Gbps connectivity in Islamabad, with plans for nationwide expansion. The government aims to extend the fibre footprint to 500,000 kilometers, up from the current 200,000 kilometers.