The goals included achieving an average broadband speed of 50-100 Mbps and increasing Fiber-to-the-Site (FTTS) coverage to 60 percent. These targets were highlighted in the statement presented by Amer Shahzad, Director General (DG) Licensing, at the National Broadband Network Forum 2024, organized by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in collaboration with Huawei.
Shahzad announced that the 5G spectrum auction is expected to take place in April 2025, marking a significant milestone for the country’s digital future. He also discussed the government’s plan to boost Fixed Broadband (FBB) penetration, which currently stands at less than 2 percent but is expected to rise to 20 percent within five years.
In terms of broadband speed, the DG outlined the target of achieving an average speed of 50-100 Mbps, up from the current 15 Mbps. He acknowledged the challenge of limited FTTS coverage, which is currently at 20 percent, but emphasized plans to expand this to 60 percent.
A vital part of telecom infrastructure, Optical Fiber Cable (OFC), is crucial for bridging the digital divide and supporting 5G networks. With increasing demand for OFC to connect base stations, the government has launched the National Fiberization Plan to expand the OFC network and improve FTTS coverage.
Shahzad also proposed deploying 1 Gbps connectivity in Islamabad, with plans for nationwide expansion. The goal is to extend the fiber network to 0.5 million kilometers, up from the current 200,000 kilometers.
The PTA’s annual report highlighted significant progress in the nationwide expansion of telecom coverage, improving connectivity for millions. Cellular mobile services now cover 91 percent of Pakistan’s population, and 3G/4G signals reach over 81 percent. By June 2024, 55,777 cell sites were operational, 95.5 percent of which support 4G.
These advancements have driven a surge in broadband subscribers, which reached 142.3 million by September 2024, reflecting a remarkable 91 percent growth over the last five years. Broadband penetration rose to 58.4 percent, up from 32.6 percent in 2019.
Pakistan’s international connectivity is bolstered by a robust network of undersea fiber optic cables and terrestrial links. The country now has seven submarine cable connections and the Pak-China Optical Fiber Cable, along with 21 cross-border terrestrial links.
With an installed capacity of 16.4 Tbps, this network ensures redundancy, reliable internet access, and resilience against disruptions. These infrastructure improvements have led to a significant rise in data usage, which increased by 24.2 percent to 25,141 petabytes (mobile: 13,021 petabytes; fixed: 12,120 petabytes) in 2023-24. To further enhance connectivity, four additional submarine cables are currently under development.
