The number of operational 5G sites in Karachi has more than tripled to 279 from 90 in July 2026, as cellular operators accelerate the rollout of next-generation mobile services in the city.
According to a Pakistan Telecommunication Authority document, operators have added 189 5G sites in Karachi. Jazz has deployed 130 sites, followed by Zong with 122 and Ufone with 27.
Cellular mobile operators have started 5G services in 23 cities, with Karachi recording the highest number of deployed 5G sites. The city currently has around 5,000 LTE and 4G sites.
The number of 5G sites in Karachi is expected to reach at least 1,000 by the end of the first rollout phase covering 2026 to 2028. Actual deployment could be higher, as the target is a minimum licensing requirement rather than a limit on the number of sites.
Under the first phase, each cellular mobile operator is required to deploy 2,000 5G sites and upgrade at least 20 percent of its existing 4G sites across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.
Operators are also required to raise the fiber to the tower ratio to 20 percent and improve mobile broadband quality from an average throughput of 4 Mbps to a median speed of 20 Mbps.
PTA has set a median baseline speed of 50 Mbps for 5G, with a phased target of 100 Mbps. Operators can deploy additional sites based on population density, traffic demand, subscriber concentration, network use and coverage requirements.
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