ISLAMABAD: The latest information that has been released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) states that approximately 92 percent of the citizens in Pakistan are already utilizing mobile phones; this fact denotes the significant digital connectivity growth all over the country.
In its report for the year 2024-2025, PTA mentioned that more than 70 percent of the households in Pakistan are now subscribed to the internet. This number is more than twice of that in 2019, hence, it suggests that digital access has been increasing at a very high rate in the last couple of years.
According to the statistics, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the province that got the most digitally adoptation. The jump in individual internet usage in the province has been unbelievable, going up from 17 percent to 57 percent.
Moreover, the PTA has acknowledged that the overall number of telecom subscribers in Pakistan has gone beyond 200 million, which is an unmistakable sign of the country’s extensive availability of mobile and internet services.
Another interesting point is that while in metropolitan areas, women are more internet users than men. The overall internet usage among men and women at the national level is now nearly equal.
The authority further pointed out that users have become digitally conscious, learned online safety, and improved their digital skills. Officials consider that the growth of connectivity is significantly helping in education, business, and information access in whole Pakistan.
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Pakistan prepares for 5G era as government makes announcement
Earlier, the federal government has announced its plan to introduce 5G technology in Pakistan very shortly, which will be one of the best ways to improve internet speed and digital connectivity significantly.
During a joint press conference with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Information Technology Federal Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja was of the view that the process for the introduction of 5G technology is very fast and that it is expected to be completed within the next four to six months.
The IT minister pointed out that the internet is the backbone of the country’s whole digital system. Moreover, she mentioned that the government is working on two fronts increasing internet speed and also providing access to the already underserved areas.
Shaza Fatima announced that the government has taken a major step in the auction of 600 MHz of the spectrum, and the relevant officials are working hard to complete the auction by the end of the first week in February 2026. Moreover, she also stated that the Spectrum Advisory Committee would soon be submitting its recommendations to the federal cabinet.
The minister promised that the telecom sector and other stakeholders would be consulted in order to ensure that the 5G deployment is smooth and transparent.
The launch of 5G services is likely to be a critical factor in speeding up the digital transformation of Pakistan, fostering innovation, and thereby leading to economic growth.
