5G in Karachi 70% Rolled Out, 2,300 Towers Upgraded Across Pakistan, PTA Tells NA
PTA told the National Assembly on 3 November that 70% of 5G services in Karachi are rolled out and 2,300 towers upgraded. How to check 5G on your phone.
About 70 per cent of 5G services in Karachi have been rolled out, and around 2,300 telecom towers across Pakistan have been upgraded for 5G, the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) told the National Assembly on 3 November 2026. It is the first progress figure on the 5G rollout given to Parliament since the spectrum auction in March.
We read the National Assembly's own press release for the meeting of its Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on 4 November 2026. The 5G figures came up while members were complaining about poor internet across the country. The chairman said the upgrades would improve service quality "in the long run".
Karachi is about 70 per cent done, and 2,300 towers now carry 5G
The release gives two numbers. Roughly 70 per cent of 5G services in Karachi have been rolled out. About 2,300 telecom towers have been upgraded to support 5G. It does not give figures for Lahore, Islamabad or any other city.
Read the Karachi figure with care. The release says "70 percent of the 5G services in Karachi", not 70 per cent of the city's area or people. It does not say which operators that covers either. So a phone in one Karachi neighbourhood can show 5G while a phone two streets away does not.
| 5G fact | Figure | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Karachi 5G rollout | About 70 per cent | PTA chairman to NA committee, 3 Nov 2026 |
| Towers upgraded for 5G | About 2,300 | PTA chairman to NA committee, 3 Nov 2026 |
| Operators authorised for 5G | Jazz, Ufone, Zong | PTA press release, 19 Mar 2026 |
| Auction revenue | $509.6 million | PTA press release, 12 Mar 2026 |
| 3500 MHz left unsold | 60 MHz | PTA press release, 12 Mar 2026 |
Jazz, Ufone and Zong hold the 5G spectrum, in different amounts
PTA's press release of 12 March 2026 lists who won what. In the 2600 MHz band, Jazz took 70 MHz and Zong and Ufone took 60 MHz each. In the 3500 MHz band, Ufone took 120 MHz, Jazz and Zong took 50 MHz each, and 60 MHz went unsold.
More spectrum usually means more capacity, which means faster speeds when many people use the network at once. But spectrum alone does nothing until towers are upgraded. That is why the 2,300 tower figure matters more to users than the auction totals.
The full breakdown, including what each operator paid, is in our page on the 5G spectrum auction results.
The rollout is phased, city by city and area by area
PTA authorised Jazz, Ufone and Zong to start 5G on 19 March 2026. Its press release that day said each operator would launch "in a phased manner". It also said each operator must publish two lists on its website: the areas where 5G is live, and the phone models that can use it.
On 4 November 2026 we checked Ufone's own 5G page. It still says "Get ready for Ufone 5G" and lists 5G phones by brand, but it names no live area. Jazz and Zong publish phone lists, which we have covered separately. The NA release does not say how the 2,300 towers split between the three operators.
How to check if 5G works on your phone in Karachi
Three things must line up: a 5G phone, 5G switched on in the settings, and a 5G tower near you. A new SIM is not usually needed. Follow these steps.
- Check that your phone model is on your operator's 5G list.
- Check that the phone is PTA registered. An unregistered phone gets blocked from all networks.
- Update the phone to the latest software, as PTA advises.
- Open the mobile network settings and choose 5G as the preferred network type.
- Look for the 5G icon at the top of the screen. If it does not show, you are outside a 5G area.
The menu names differ by brand. Our guide on turning on 5G in Pakistan shows the path for Samsung, iPhone, Xiaomi, Infinix and others. To check your model first, see the Zong 5G phone list or the Jazz 5G phone list.
Power cuts and old towers are still holding service back
The same briefing came with a warning. The PTA chairman said load-shedding of 12 to 16 hours a day in some rural areas shuts down towers when their backup runs out. A 5G upgrade does not help a tower that has no power.
He also told the committee that five show-cause notices had gone to operators in three months over poor service, but court stay orders have held up the fines. We cover that in our story on PTA's five show-cause notices.
Common questions
How much of Karachi has 5G now?
The PTA chairman told the National Assembly committee on 3 November 2026 that about 70 per cent of 5G services in Karachi had been rolled out. He did not say what share of the city's area that covers.
How many towers in Pakistan support 5G?
About 2,300 towers have been upgraded to support 5G, according to the same briefing. No split by city or operator was given.
Do I need a new SIM for 5G in Karachi?
Usually not. You need a 5G phone on your operator's list, 5G turned on in settings, and a 5G tower nearby. Ask your operator if your SIM is very old.
Has Ufone launched 5G in Karachi?
Ufone's 5G page still said "Get ready for Ufone 5G" when we checked on 4 November 2026 and named no live area. Ufone does hold 5G spectrum from the March auction.
Why does my 5G phone still show 4G in Karachi?
Either 5G is not switched on in your settings, your model is not on the operator's list, or you are outside a 5G area. The rollout is still incomplete.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 4 November 2026. The 70 per cent and 2,300 tower figures are from the National Assembly of Pakistan's press release "Standing Committee on Information Technology & Telecommunication meets", 3 November 2026, and are statements made to the committee. The spectrum split and auction total are from PTA's press release of 12 March 2026 on the assignment stage, and the phased rollout and website lists from PTA's press release of 19 March 2026, both listed on PTA's press releases page. Ufone's status is from ufone.com/ufone-5g. We did not test 5G in Karachi ourselves.
About the author
Technology Journalist & Multimedia Producer
Ahmad Ali is a technology journalist and multimedia producer at Pakistan Era, joining the team in October 2026. He covers consumer technology and digital life for Pakistani readers, combining research with hands-on product testing.
