ISLAMABAD (MNN); Local mobile phone assemblers and manufacturers are aiming to ensure the availability of around two million 5G-enabled handsets in the market by the time 5G services are officially launched in Pakistan, as government preparations for the rollout enter a fast-tracked phase.
Officials said that the government is actively pushing for instalment-based sales of 5G smartphones to improve affordability for consumers, while efforts are underway to align handset availability with network deployment.
As part of early preparations, local manufacturers have already assembled approximately 500,000 5G-enabled mobile phones, reflecting readiness on the device front ahead of the commercial launch of 5G services. Authorities have urged manufacturers to prioritise affordable models, with prices starting from around Rs30,000, to support widespread adoption.
According to officials, the 5G spectrum auction is expected to be held by the end of next month, while commercial 5G services are likely to be launched within the next five months in major cities. A phased expansion to other parts of the country will follow.
To ensure coordination, senior government officials, including representatives from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), held a meeting with the Mobile Device Manufacturers Association, which represents around 35 local and international assemblers operating in Pakistan.
The meeting was informed that at least five companies, including Samsung, Vivo and OPPO, are already assembling or manufacturing 5G-enabled handsets in the country, while several other manufacturers are preparing to begin production.
Officials noted that previously there was limited demand for 5G handsets due to the absence of 5G services. However, as the government moves closer to launching the technology, production of 5G-enabled devices has gained momentum.
Government representatives assured the industry of full support in resolving regulatory and operational issues, including facilitation during imports and the timely issuance of Certificates of Conformity. They stressed that uninterrupted supply chains and regulatory certainty are essential to achieving handset availability targets.
The government also formally proposed the introduction of instalment-based purchase options to ease the financial burden on consumers amid challenging economic conditions. Industry participants welcomed the proposal and assured authorities that they would scale up production of locally assembled 5G smartphones to meet expected demand.
Officials emphasised that affordable devices, along with timely spectrum allocation and network readiness, will be critical to the successful rollout of 5G services in Pakistan.
