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ISLAMABAD, Feb 04 (APP):Pakistan’s fast-growing mobile phone industry is preparing to benefit from the expected launch of next-generation 5G services by the middle of the year, as manufacturers step up readiness on both hardware and software fronts.
Over the past few years, the country’s mobile phone industry has emerged as a success story in South Asia, with more than 30 local assembly units now producing around 30 million handsets annually.
“Local assembly and manufacturing capabilities have strengthened significantly, and manufacturers—particularly those producing leading brands—have already aligned their roadmaps with next-generation technologies,” Zeeshan Mianoor, Chief Executive Officer of Inovi Telecom, told Wealth Pakistan.
Zeeshan said 5G readiness is a shared responsibility across the broader ecosystem. “While handset manufacturers are largely prepared, the full benefits of 5G will depend on timely spectrum allocation, a phased network rollout and consumer affordability,” he said. “When these elements move in tandem, Pakistan can fully capitalise on 5G, especially in the mobile phone sector.”
He noted that many smartphones currently assembled or sold in Pakistan already support key 5G frequency bands expected to be deployed locally. However, such devices are largely positioned in the mid- to high-price segment, starting at around Rs75,000.
Zeeshan said demand for 5G-compatible handsets is likely to grow gradually rather than surge immediately. “Initial adoption will come from early users in major urban centres such as Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, where 5G coverage is expected to be introduced first,” he said.
“Broader adoption will follow once consumers clearly experience faster speeds and lower latency, and when affordable 5G devices and financing options become widely available,” he said, pointing out that Pakistan’s young, digital-first population offers strong long-term demand potential, though uptake will scale in phases.
On the transition from older technologies, Zeeshan clarified that 5G cannot be enabled through software updates alone. “It requires specific hardware, including 5G-capable chipsets, antennas and RF components,” he explained.
He said manufacturers will roll out new or upgraded 5G models while continuing to offer 4G devices for price-sensitive consumers. “This dual strategy ensures inclusion and consumer choice during the transition period,” he added, noting that production volumes would align with network rollout timelines and market demand.
Zeeshan also stressed that widespread 5G adoption will depend not only on handset availability but also on spectrum readiness, rollout frameworks and regulatory clarity, noting that alignment across these areas is critical for smooth adoption and long-term sustainability.
He said that local production of 5G-capable devices could enhance Pakistan’s competitiveness in regional and emerging markets where 5G adoption is already underway. “With consistent quality standards, certifications and cost competitiveness, 5G manufacturing can strengthen Pakistan’s position in the global supply chain over time,” he said.
“The introduction of new technology will initially benefit only 20 to 30 percent of manufacturers,” Mian Abdul Rehman, Chairman of the Pakistan Mobile Phone Manufacturers Association, told Wealth Pakistan.
He said 5G-compatible handsets are also expected to account for around 20 percent of the market in the early phase, with the share rising gradually over time.
He said prices of 5G-enabled handsets could be higher than those of existing models by Rs5,000 to Rs15,000, while in some cases the price difference may range between Rs20,000 and Rs30,000.