Official documents by MOIT&T have revealed that the Government of Pakistan is planning to launch 5G in the country. The MOIT&T is in the process of finalizing policy guidelines for 5G in consultation with the PTA/ Frequency Allocation Board (FAB) and other stakeholders. Official documents have also revealed that the ministry is presently in a process of assessing the options available for the timely launch of 5G services in Pakistan. The timely rollout of 5G mobile phone connectivity is contingent on political stability in the country, which has already wasted two months and may delay the launch of services. The confirmation was given by top officials in the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoIT&T). Although the previous government had planned to auction 5G spectrum latest by end March 2023 in the country with the initial launch in big cities but due to political instability in the country, around two months have been wasted. Federal Minister for MoIT&T Syed Aminul Haque confirmed that due to political instability two months of time has been wasted. When asked about the launch of 5G by end of March 2023, the minister said that the auction would be held before the general election in the country. Top officials at Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said that the question of timeline for 5G auction should be directed towards the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication. If it is a priority item for the new government and the telecom industry, then the Authority can do the spectrum auction before the election. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jazz Aamir Ibrahim has stated on record that 5G is hardly to make any business case in the next two years because less than one percent consumers afford such handsets in the country. The people think that better internet would be provided once the 5G is launched in the country, but it could be provided with 4G even now by government interventions for greater propagation.
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