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The Telecom Operators Association of Pakistan (TOA) has warned the government against pushing ahead with a rapid rollout of next-generation mobile networks without first addressing the high cost of compatible mobile devices.

They argue that a premature 5G rollout could drain scarce foreign exchange and divert capital away from upgrading existing infrastructure, even though millions of mobile users remain offline more than a decade after the country’s first 4G auction. Industry leaders say that experience should serve as a warning as authorities prepare the 5G sale.

Aamir Ibrahim, chairperson of the Telecom Operators Association of Pakistan, urged policymakers to prioritize consumer affordability and real‑world usability before accelerating rollout timelines. Pakistan’s digital future, he said, will depend less on how quickly 5G is launched and more on whether ordinary citizens can afford compatible devices and see enough value in staying connected. “Technology introduction by itself does not transform societies. Using that technology does,” he said.

While public debate on 5G has centred on global competitiveness and future readiness, Ibrahim said it has largely ignored a basic question: who will actually use 5G in Pakistan?

Industry estimates indicate that only about 2% of mobile users currently own a 5G‑enabled handset. Entry‑level 5G smartphones cost about Rs. 90,000, while high‑end iPhone models can reach Rs. 700,000. With most subscribers on prepaid plans and average incomes low, Ibrahim said device prices alone shut most Pakistanis out of any meaningful 5G experience.

Local manufacturing trends underscore the concern. Between 2019 and late 2025, Pakistan assembled roughly 152 million mobile devices domestically, with nearly 60% of them basic 2G feature phones. Even within smartphones, output has been concentrated in low‑cost 4G models, with virtually no 5G handsets made locally.

Ibrahim noted that adding 5G capability significantly raises handset production costs because of more advanced modems and radio components. In a price‑sensitive market, even modest cost increases can push phones beyond the reach of mass‑market buyers. Retooling assembly lines to support 5G typically takes several months, he added, limiting how quickly local manufacturers can respond even if policy signals improve.

Financing constraints add another hurdle. Unlike developed markets, where operators bundle devices with service plans and offer instalment options, Pakistan lacks a mature consumer credit system. Customers generally have to pay the full price upfront, putting high‑end smartphones beyond many households.

Ibrahim warned that spectrum policy focused only on rollout deadlines and coverage obligations, without addressing these demand‑side barriers, risks leaving operators with underused infrastructure. “An expensive and empty 5G network would not be a marginal shortcoming. It would be a national failure,” he said.

He also pointed to a broader “usability gap” in Pakistan’s digital landscape. Even where networks are available, millions remain offline because of limited digital skills, a shortage of relevant local content, and low trust in digital services. More than ten years after the first 4G auction, about one in four mobile customers still does not use mobile broadband.

Without fixing these structural issues, Ibrahim cautioned, 5G could widen rather than narrow the digital divide, serving a small urban elite while leaving most of the population behind. He called on regulators and the government to pursue a more balanced strategy that includes lowering taxes on devices, enabling handset financing schemes and aligning spectrum policy with consumer realities.

Ultimately, he argued, 5G’s success in Pakistan should be judged not by auction revenues or coverage maps but by how many people can participate meaningfully in the digital economy. “Pakistan does not need to win a race to launch 5G defined elsewhere,” Ibrahim said. “It needs a digital policy that prioritizes affordability, usability and long‑term inclusion over speed and symbolism.”