Internet speeds improved as 5G launched on 440 towers across Pakistan

Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (Retd.) Hafeez Ur Rehman has said that internet performance in Pakistan has improved significantly, with average internet speeds now reaching a medium level. He also announced that 5G services have been launched on 440 telecom towers across the country as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s digital infrastructure.

The remarks were made during a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, where lawmakers reviewed the country’s telecommunications performance, internet connectivity, and challenges facing the sector.

Addressing the committee, the PTA chairman acknowledged that internet speeds had historically declined outside major urban centers, particularly after leaving Islamabad. He noted that users in many suburban and rural areas often experienced significantly slower internet connections compared to those in large cities.

“There was a time when internet speed dropped considerably once you moved outside Islamabad,” he told the committee. “We have worked to improve the network, and internet speed has now moved from an average level to a medium level.”

To illustrate the improvements, the PTA chairman shared his own experience, saying that internet speed in his hometown had previously been as low as one megabit per second (1 Mbps). According to him, investments in network infrastructure and continued expansion of telecommunications services have contributed to noticeable improvements in connectivity across various regions of the country.

A major highlight of his briefing was the announcement that Pakistan has launched 5G services on 440 telecom towers. The rollout is being viewed as an important step toward introducing next-generation mobile connectivity, which promises significantly faster internet speeds, lower latency, and improved support for digital services, smart technologies, and business innovation.

The PTA chairman explained that expanding high-speed internet remains one of the authority’s key priorities, as reliable connectivity is essential for education, e-commerce, digital banking, healthcare, remote work, and the country’s broader digital transformation.

However, he emphasized that one of the biggest challenges facing Pakistan’s telecom sector is the country’s persistent electricity crisis. According to the chairman, prolonged power outages directly affect telecom infrastructure, causing disruptions in mobile and internet services.

He informed the committee that Pakistan experienced an average of 10 hours of electricity load shedding during May, while some areas faced outages lasting as long as 18 hours per day. Such extended power cuts make it difficult for telecom operators to keep their towers operational, especially in regions where backup power systems are limited.

To address this issue, the PTA chief said the federal government has taken steps to protect telecommunications infrastructure from the impact of load shedding. He revealed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a dedicated committee to examine proposals for exempting telecom towers from electricity load shedding.

According to the chairman, uninterrupted power supply for telecom towers is essential to maintaining stable communication services across Pakistan. Ensuring continuous operation of these towers would improve network reliability, reduce service interruptions, and enhance the overall user experience for millions of mobile and broadband customers.

The briefing highlighted both the progress made in expanding Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and the challenges that still need to be addressed. While the deployment of 5G on hundreds of towers and improvements in internet speeds represent significant milestones, officials acknowledged that resolving power shortages remains critical for achieving consistent and high-quality telecommunications services nationwide.

The PTA reaffirmed its commitment to working with the government and telecom operators to further enhance internet connectivity, expand next-generation technologies, and support Pakistan’s growing digital economy.