Jazz becomes first operator to reach 1,000 5G sites; network expands to 10 cities, Jazz targets 2,500 sites by year-end

ISLAMABAD, Aug 27 (APP): Jazz, Pakistan’s leading connectivity provider from JazzWorld, has expanded its 5G network to 1,000 live sites, marking the fastest 5G rollout in Pakistan and establishing the country’s largest 5G network footprint and Jazz aimed to increase this to 2,500 sites by the end of 2026.

The milestone builds on Jazz’s initial 5G launch across close to 180 sites in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta, Multan and Faisalabad. The rollout has since expanded across these markets while extending to Sialkot and Gujranwala, taking Jazz’s 5G presence to 10 cities nationwide.

President, Jazz GSM, said Kazim Mujtaba said “Reaching 1,000 5G sites at this pace reflects our determination to bring the benefits of 5G to more Pakistanis, faster. As we scale to 2,500 sites by year-end, our focus is on delivering a better digital experience through greater capacity, faster speeds and more reliable connectivity, while enabling new services and use cases as 5G adoption grows.”

He said Jazz was the only satellite operator to make significant investment across multiple spectrum bands, explaining that its strategy was designed to support 5G, 4G capacity, satellite connectivity and rural coverage.

He said other operators that acquired spectrum had largely taken the minimum required to operate their networks. In comparison, the operator invested across several bands based on its assessment of future business requirements.

With the additional spectrum, Jazz’s total spectrum holdings have increased from 94.4 MHz to 284.4 MHz, nearly tripling its previous spectrum capacity.

The newly acquired spectrum includes 20 MHz in the 700 MHz band, 50 MHz in the 2300 MHz band, 70 MHz in the 2600 MHz band and 50 MHz in the 3500 MHz band.

The spectrum portfolio will support both the expansion of 5G services and additional 4G capacity, enabling the operator to increase network capacity and coverage simultaneously.

The operator’s latest rollout comes amid an accelerated transition towards 5G services following Pakistan’s spectrum auction held earlier this year.

He said 5G technology could support government projects by providing real-time data and enabling authorities to monitor infrastructure and respond to emergencies more effectively.

He said a Punjab project had already been launched to collect and analyse data about drains, bridges and waterways, including information on where different drains flow and which rivers they eventually enter.

He said the project could help authorities better understand and monitor the drainage system, particularly during heavy rainfall and flooding.

He said early warning systems were another area where 5G could provide significant benefits.
He said 5G could connect sensors installed in buildings and infrastructure, allowing them to continuously transmit information and support early detection of potential problems.

He explained that smart buildings could have sensors installed across different devices. If a device or component began heating up, the system could detect the abnormal temperature before smoke or visible signs of a fire appeared.

He said an increase in temperature could indicate that a device was drawing excessive electricity and that a short circuit might be developing.

He said such sensors could provide an early warning, allowing action to be taken before a serious incident occurred. He said the technology could therefore support smart-building solutions and improve safety through real-time monitoring.
In response to a question, he said the shift from 4G to 5G would significantly increase power requirements at network sites because of higher data traffic and capacity.

In response to another question, he said it was incorrect to suggest that new sites were being built for the 5G rollout, clarifying that most 5G deployment would take place on the existing 4G network infrastructure.

He said the majority of 5G equipment would be installed on existing towers and at existing 4G sites, rather than requiring the construction of new towers.

He explained that the existing network already had extensive coverage, including areas where 5G services were not yet available.
“We don’t need new towers,” he said, adding that the focus was on deploying 5G equipment on the existing infrastructure using the newly acquired spectrum.

He said two points needed to be kept clear during discussions about the 5G rollout: the deployment involved equipment upgrades at existing sites, while the construction of new sites was not generally required.

Responding to a question, he said 5G awareness needed to go beyond faster internet speeds, as its major potential lay in improving business efficiency and productivity.

He said customers might notice faster downloads, such as completing a task in 30 seconds instead of two minutes, but the greater opportunity was in corporate solutions.

He said corporate teams needed to create awareness among businesses about how 5G could improve their processes, including manufacturing and mining operations.

He said 5G could make businesses more efficient and increase their productivity, adding that the revenue opportunities from such solutions were significant.

He said the second aspect was the equipment required to enable such corporate solutions, adding that most of the necessary equipment was already available in Pakistan.
Giving an example from a visit abroad, he said Ericsson had showcased several 5G-enabled technologies, including a robotic dog that could inspect border fences.

He said scanners installed on such equipment could detect situations and provide information in real time, while drones could monitor shipping and oiling operations.

He said robots could also enter mines alongside or instead of humans and use sensors for various purposes. He said the technology offered many possibilities, but the equipment remained expensive.

He said such equipment would initially be costly, but manufacturing some of it locally could make it more accessible.
He said high-speed wireless connectivity could also provide solutions for homes and governments, particularly in markets with significant demand.

Khalid Shehzad, Chief Technology Officer, JazzWorld, said, “Building 5G at this scale requires a network designed for diverse connectivity needs across Pakistan. By combining our multi-band spectrum with advanced radio technologies and modernized infrastructure, we are delivering wider coverage and greater capacity while preparing the network for the growing demands of 5G.”
Beyond the pace and scale of the rollout, Jazz is building Pakistan’s most diverse 5G network, underpinned by its spectrum acquisition in the 2026 auction. Jazz secured 190 MHz of additional spectrum across four bands — 700 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz and 3500 MHz — taking its total spectrum holdings to 284.4 MHz.

The rollout follows Jazz’s USD 1 billion investment commitment announced after the spectrum auction to accelerate 5G deployment and strengthen its network infrastructure across Pakistan. The commitment takes Jazz’s total investment in Pakistan to USD 12 billion to date, underscoring its long-term commitment to the country’s digital infrastructure and connectivity ecosystem.