Pakistan’s 5G tower fiberization rate stands at just 17.9%, leaving the country’s 5G backbone dangerously thin even as operators have already started switching on next-generation services in major cities. The PTA has already warned that high smartphone taxes are slowing 5G adoption, and now the fibre gap adds another serious hurdle to the nationwide rollout Pakistan is promising.
Where Each Operator Stands on 5G Tower Fiberization
Jazz currently leads the sector with 22% tower fiberization, making it the only operator to have crossed the initial 20% benchmark. Zong follows at 19%, while Telenor has connected 16% of its towers to fibre. Ufone remains furthest behind, with only 9% of its tower network fibre-connected.
According to the latest figures from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the share of mobile sites linked by fibre rose to 17.9% in 2025, up from 14.8% in 2024. That is steady progress on paper, but the numbers tell a different story when you look at what the 5G licence actually demands.
What the 5G Licence Requires
Under the NGMS/5G licence conditions, all cellular mobile operators are required to raise their Fibre-to-the-Site (FTTS) ratio to at least 20% during Phase-I (2026-28), with the target increasing to 35% by Phase-IV (2032-35) to ensure sufficient backhaul capacity for expanding 5G networks.
Based on current figures, Zong requires a relatively limited expansion to meet the initial target, while Telenor needs to raise its fibre coverage by four percentage points. Ufone would need to more than double its current level to comply with the Phase-I requirement. That is a steep climb for a company that has not yet launched commercial 5G services.
Why Fibre Actually Matters for 5G Speeds
A 5G radio on a tower is only as fast as the cable carrying data away from it. Fibre connections provide the backhaul needed to carry data from mobile towers to the core network, making them essential for consistent speeds, lower latency, and reliable performance.
Most towers still rely on microwave systems, which are insufficient for the high speed and low latency required for 5G. Think of it like fitting a high-speed motorway on-ramp but leaving a single-lane dirt road beyond it. The bottleneck moves, but it does not disappear.
Installing 5G radio equipment alone does not guarantee improved service. Without sufficient backhaul capacity, towers may struggle to handle increased traffic, potentially limiting speeds and network reliability during periods of high demand.
The Ufone-Telenor Merger Changes the Picture
Here is a detail most coverage misses. Telenor completed the sale of its Telenor Pakistan business to PTCL at the end of December 2025, after the PTA issued a No Objection Certificate earlier that month. Once this merger is fully integrated, the combined entity will inherit Telenor’s 16% fiberization alongside Ufone’s 9%. That is a bigger asset base to build on, but it also means a much larger tower count to bring up to standard before Phase-I ends in 2028.
Ufone said that once its merger with Telenor Pakistan is officially approved by the PTA, the resulting combined entity will hold 292.4 MHz worth of spectrum across low, mid, and high frequency bands. Its CEO said the company now controls the largest share of the global standard 3.5 GHz spectrum, twice as much as any competitor. Big spectrum holdings mean nothing, though, if the backhaul cannot carry the load.
Why Operators Are Moving Slowly
Connecting a single tower to fibre is not cheap. Fiberising one telecom site costs between $10,000 and $20,000. At the same time, operators are dealing with inflation, high taxes, expensive imports, and currency fluctuations.
Right-of-way approvals remain one of the principal barriers to expansion, with multiple authorities including municipalities, cantonments and development bodies involved in the process. This fragmentation causes delays of 12 to 18 months and raises costs, although the government’s recent decision to abolish right-of-way charges on key corridors has provided some relief.
Pakistan simply does not have enough trained telecom engineers and fibre specialists to speed up deployment at the scale the targets demand. Money alone will not solve the problem.
What the Government Plans to Do
Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said the government aims to raise fiberization to nearly 60% within the next three years. That is an ambitious jump from the current 17.9%.
Out of a total allocation of Rs141 billion, the government has earmarked Rs35.7 billion for telecom operators under the USF to expand optical fibre cable networks in different regions. The government has also removed right-of-way charges on key corridors to make it easier for companies to dig trenches and lay cable. E-band spectrum for high-capacity wireless backhaul has been assigned as an alternative in areas where fibre is harder to deploy quickly.
E-band connections can carry large volumes of data between telecom towers and network facilities, providing an alternative in areas where laying fibre is expensive or technically difficult. However, wireless backhaul is generally viewed as a complementary solution rather than a complete replacement for fibre, particularly in high-traffic areas requiring long-term capacity.
What This Means for Pakistani Users
The fibre shortfall may result in an uneven rollout, with operators initially concentrating investment in dense urban and commercially attractive areas where fibre infrastructure is already available. In plain terms: if you live in Lahore, Karachi, or Islamabad, you may get decent 5G. If you are in a smaller city or a rural area, your wait could be long.
As of June 2025, the total number of cell sites in the country stood at 58,423. Getting even 20% of those sites fibre-connected across the board, not just in rich urban pockets, is the real test of whether Pakistan’s 5G ambitions are serious or just a headline.
You can check the latest PTA official website for 5G coverage maps and operator-specific service areas. For a deeper look at what 5G spectrum was bought and by whom, the PTA press releases section carries the full licence and auction details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 5G tower fiberization and why does it matter?
5G tower fiberization means connecting a mobile tower to the internet backbone using a fibre-optic cable instead of a slower microwave radio link. Without fibre backhaul, a 5G tower cannot move enough data fast enough to give users the high speeds and low delays that 5G promises.
Which Pakistani operator has the highest fibre coverage right now?
Jazz is the only major operator currently above the first-phase fibre target, with 22% tower fiberization, the only operator to have crossed the initial 20% benchmark.
How far behind is Ufone on fibre targets?
Ufone has only 9% of its tower network fibre-connected and would need to more than double its current level to comply with the Phase-I requirement of 20% by 2028. Its pending merger with Telenor will give it more towers to upgrade, not fewer.
When is Pakistan expected to reach 60% fiberization?
The IT Minister said only 16% of towers are currently fiberized and the government’s target is to increase that to almost 60% within the next three years, alongside expanding fiberized home connections from 2-3 million to at least 10 million.
