ISLAMABAD: Islamabad International Airport has become the first airport in Pakistan to offer 5G services, marking a key milestone in the country’s push towards next-generation digital connectivity, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said on Thursday.
The authority, in a statement, said the service had been launched in collaboration with a private telecom operator, enabling passengers to access ultra-fast internet and modern digital facilities.
“The newly launched 5G services will enhance passengers’ travel experience with high-speed connectivity and advanced digital amenities,” the authority said.
According to the PAA, passengers at the airport are already benefiting from faster browsing, seamless video calls and live streaming capabilities enabled by the high-speed network.
The authority said the 5G service is currently operational in areas outside and around the airport building, while technical work is underway to expand coverage across the inner terminal.
The PAA added that similar facilities would soon be introduced at other major airports across the country.
5G spectrum auction and rollout
The development follows Pakistan’s recent 5G spectrum auction, which raised around $507 million, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
The government sold a total of 480 MHz of spectrum, against an initial target of 597 MHz.
Three operators — Jazz, Zong and Ufone — secured licences to roll out 5G services in the country.
The PTA said the auction included two lots in the 700 MHz band, all five lots in the 2300 MHz band, all 19 lots in the 2600 MHz band, and 22 out of 28 lots in the 3500 MHz band.
Regulators have authorised cellular mobile operators to begin 5G services in a phased manner to ensure quality and reliability during the initial rollout.
In Islamabad, 5G services have also been activated in key areas including the Red Zone, Blue Area and Parliament Lodges, as part of the initial rollout phase.
5G services in major cities
Telecom operators have already begun deploying 5G networks in major urban centres.
Jazz said it had activated around 180 5G sites in Islamabad and provincial capitals including Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta, as well as cities such as Rawalpindi, Multan and Faisalabad.
The operator added that it is simultaneously expanding its 4G network and has secured spectrum across multiple bands, including 700 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz.
Meanwhile, Zong said it had commercially launched 5G services in more than 16 cities and plans to deploy over 1,000 sites by 2026.
The company said its trials had recorded speeds exceeding 1.4 Gbps.
Pakistan’s push for digital economy
A day earlier, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government was providing “all possible facilitation” to investors in the telecom sector, citing the recent spectrum auction during a meeting with Kaan Terzioglu, CEO of VEON Group.
Terzioglu welcomed the government’s efforts to improve transparency and the investment climate, saying Pakistan had moved “swiftly” towards a digital economy and the rollout of 5G services.
