Pakistan’s long-awaited 5G rollout is hitting a major roadblock. The federal government’s plan to launch 5G services by June 2025 has been delayed by at least four months, primarily due to regulatory uncertainty surrounding the Telenor Pakistan and PTCL (Ufone) merger.
🛑 The core issue? The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has yet to approve the merger, creating ambiguity over how many telecom players will actually participate in the 5G spectrum auction.
📍 What’s Causing the Delay?
Despite the technical groundwork being complete, the policy-level bottleneck has stalled progress. Here’s a quick breakdown:
- ✅ PTA has received a completed 5G advisory report from an international consultant.
- 🧾 The report outlines scenarios for three or four operator participation, depending on the merger outcome.
- 🕓 However, the advisory committee meant to issue policy direction hasn’t even met yet, largely due to rising regional tensions with India and ongoing geopolitical instability.
📅 The Original 5G Roadmap is Now Unrealistic
The government initially aimed for the following timeline:
| Milestone | Original Deadline |
|---|---|
| Finalize Policy Reforms | March 2025 |
| Issue Policy Directive | April 2025 |
| Conduct Auction | May 2025 |
| Commercial Launch | June 2025 |
⏳ As of mid-May, no policy directive has been issued, making a mid-2025 rollout highly unlikely.
💰 $1 Billion Merger on Hold
Both Telenor Pakistan and PTCL have openly criticized the CCP for dragging its feet. The merger application was filed on February 29, 2024, and is still stuck in Phase II review.
📢 PTCL has committed a $1 billion investment and is now seeking intervention from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to expedite the process.
⛔ Until a final verdict is reached, investor confidence and infrastructure planning for 5G remain in limbo.
📉 What’s at Stake?
This delay is more than just a timeline hiccup—it could:
- Erode investor confidence in Pakistan’s telecom sector
- Push back Pakistan’s competitive edge in digital transformation and tech exports
- Slow down job creation, startups, and smart city development initiatives tied to 5G infrastructure
🗣️ Industry Outlook
📡 Despite the delays, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Ministry of IT maintain that the groundwork is complete. However, without policy clarity, the spectrum auction remains on hold.
🧠 “We’re ready to go technically, but policy decisions are now the main bottleneck,” a senior Ministry official shared.
🔎 Final Thoughts
Pakistan’s ambition to leap into the 5G era by mid-2025 now looks uncertain. The success of the Telenor-PTCL merger could define how quickly the country can move forward with next-gen connectivity.
For now, all eyes are on the Competition Commission, the SIFC, and the Advisory Committee to break the deadlock and pave the way for Pakistan’s digital future.
