Launch of 5G technology delayed until June 2023

Date extended due to political change

ISLAMABAD:

The launch of 5G technology in Pakistan has been delayed due to a political change in the country and is now expected to be rolled out in June 2023.

The PTI government had given a deadline of December 2022 for the launch of 5G technology. Later on, however, this deadline was revised to March 2023.

On Thursday, Minister of IT and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque addressed an event held by Zong4G to demonstrate the network’s excellence during recent times and to honour those who have made significant contributions towards fulfilling this agenda.

While talking to media during the event, Haque said that the government had planned to launch 5G technology in Pakistan by March 2023. However, this launch has been delayed by around three months due to political change in Pakistan.

Haque stated that the IT ministry had been holding meetings to ensure readiness for the launch of 5G technology in Pakistan.

While talking about the state of readiness, he added that the government was focused on enhancing the penetration of 4G technology in the country. Haque claimed that 4G penetration was increasing every month.

Regarding infrastructure development, he said that the government was building a network of fibre cables across Pakistan. In addition, Haque said that the government would select four mega cities of Pakistan to launch 5G technology.

The IT minister also said that the government had removed the hurdles faced by local mobile phone manufacturers regarding the opening of LCs. He also explained that with regards to the withholding tax issue being faced by telecom companies he had taken up the matter with the finance ministry and also sought assistance from the prime minister to resolve the issue.

Speaking at the occasion, Haque noted that “Zong has shown remarkable resilience and will in the face of adversity, demonstrating excellent leadership in network restoration in flood-affected areas. The work done by the technical staff has been excellent and should be commended.”

Zong CEO Wang Hua said, “I am extremely proud of our technical employees who remained on their toes, day and night, to restore network in areas which were completely submerged in flood-water and where the infrastructure was damaged.”

“Our teams recovered 99% of the CMPak network in three weeks,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2022.

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