Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has signed a strategic partnership with Huawei Technologies to deploy 5G network infrastructure across major cities. The rollout will begin in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi with commercial 5G services expected by Q4 2026.
The partnership includes deployment of 5G NR (New Radio) base stations, core network upgrades, and edge computing infrastructure. PTCL will invest approximately $200 million in the initial phase covering 500 cell sites.
Industry analysts note that Pakistan 5G rollout comes later than regional peers but the late-mover advantage allows adoption of advanced 5G-Advanced standards. The government has allocated spectrum in the 3.5GHz and 26GHz bands for 5G deployment.
PTCL CEO stated that 5G will transform industries from agriculture to healthcare, enabling IoT applications that were previously impossible on 4G networks. The company plans to cover 80% of urban population within 18 months of commercial launch.
