Islamabad: The probability of 5G being launched in Pakistan in the next 10 months is very low due to several factors. The economic instability and the continual devaluation of the Pakistani currency versus the dollar, coupled with the absence of technology to support the 5G spectrum, stand as primary reasons why local mobile operators are not prepared to procure 5G permits.
The federal Ministry of IT and Telecommunication has not yet presented any 5G technology for the licensing of spectrum. Despite earlier declarations by Umer Saif following a meeting with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, there are substantial challenges that must be confronted before a launch is feasible.
An insider at the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has indicated that the likelihood of 5G being launched within 10 months is highly unlikely as local mobile operators are unwilling to invest in the vital permits. The Ministry of IT has not devised a 5G licensing approach, and local network operators are uninterested due to the inadequacy of the needed technological infrastructure.
Furthermore, there are apprehensions regarding the accessibility of 5G-compatible smartphones for consumers, as well as the necessity for local operators to modernize their networking platforms for the introduction of 5G, which is presently unattainable due to import constraints and restrictions on LCs.
The Chief Executive Officer of Jazz Networks, Aamir Hafeez Ibrahim, has also expressed similar reservations, underscoring the obstacles encountered in Pakistan, such as taxation and teledensity.
In previous years, the Pakistani government amassed considerable revenue through the auctioning of 3G/4G permits to several mobile networks. However, the ongoing obstacles surrounding the launch of 5G in Pakistan suggest that significant challenges must be overcome before its implementation.
