ISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s long-awaited 5G rollout remains in limbo, with officials citing technical and coordination hurdles, including pending updates from Apple Inc..

During a key policy discussion, lawmakers expressed frustration over repeated delays. Senator Palwasha Khan questioned the status of 5G deployment, while Senator Afnan Ullah Khan remarked that despite regularly checking his phone, the next-generation service has yet to go live.

Responding to concerns, the head of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said the regulator is currently seeking implementation plans from telecom operators, adding that rollout could begin within six months.

He noted that a key hurdle has been the absence of a required software update from Apple, which is necessary to enable 5G functionality on supported devices in Pakistan.

However, the Ministry of IT secretary expressed optimism, stating that the Apple patch is expected soon and that 5G services on Apple devices could become operational as early as May.

The delay underscores ongoing challenges in Pakistan’s transition to next-generation connectivity, as coordination between global tech firms, regulators and local operators remains critical to the launch.