Pakistan Begins Nationwide Fiberization Plan Ahead of 5G Spectrum Auction
Wire desk byline Sourced from Xinhua, Dawn, Arab News, Anadolu and Minute Mirror. Translated and abridged by the GSRRA Desk.
Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has said the government has started rolling out a nationwide fiberization plan aimed at improving internet infrastructure and preparing the country for 5G services.
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She said the plan has already been finalized, and discussions with development partners are ongoing. According to the minister, practical implementation has begun to expand fiber connectivity across Pakistan.
Govt Confident of 5G Auction
Shaza Fatima Khawaja said there is no legal stay order, ownership claim, or licensing dispute on any spectrum band, adding that the government is fully confident about the upcoming 5G auction.
She said the telecom industry is also showing confidence and is preparing to participate in the auction without hesitation. The government aims to auction at least 300 MHz of spectrum, while any amount above that will be considered an additional success.
The minister noted that Pakistan’s population of around 240 million people currently operates on only 274 MHz of spectrum, while internet usage in the country has increased by 25 percent over the last two years.
She said the limited availability of spectrum and low investment in the telecom sector had slowed progress. However, the upcoming auction is expected to help improve internet speeds and service quality forconsumers.
The government plans to launch 5G services in five major cities during the next phase.
Fiberization to Support Regional Data Transit
The minister said the fiberization plan will also strengthen Pakistan’s position as a regional data transit hub.
She explained that internet transit with China is already functioning efficiently through fiber links. In addition, agreements with Central Asian countries have been finalized under which their data will pass through Pakistan.
With improved fiber connectivity, Pakistan will become the shortest digital route between Central Asia and China, turning the country into a key regional data corridor.
Submarine Cables
Shaza Fatima Khawaja said that three submarine cables have landed in Pakistan during the last two years, while connections with two additional cables will further improve international connectivity.
Referring to past disruptions, she noted that multiple cable cuts occurred last year in Yemeni waters, which affected internet services.
She also said cybersecurity measures are being strengthened. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has upgraded its web management system, which had been in use for nearly two decades, to address increasingly complex cyber threats and to ensure communication security during sensitive national situations.
Reference Link:- https://propakistani.pk/2026/03/10/pakistan-begins-nationwide-fiberization-plan-ahead-of-5g-spectrum-auction/
Zamir Ahmed Awan is the founder and Chair of the Global Silk Route Research Alliance, a think tank in Islamabad. He studied engineering at Shanghai University in the 1980s, and years later he went back to China as Pakistan's science counsellor in Beijing, from 2010 until 2016, working on science and higher education cooperation between the two countries.…
