Islamabad airport becomes Pakistan's first to launch 5G services

The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) announced on Thursday that 5G services had been launched at Islamabad International Airport, making it the first airport in Pakistan to offer such services.

In a statement issued by the PAA, the launch of 5G connectivity at the airport was facilitated in collaboration with a private telecom company, providing passengers with ultra-fast internet and modern digital facilities.

“The newly launched 5G services will enhance passengers' travel experience with high-speed connectivity and advanced digital amenities,” said the PAA statement.

Pakistan recently sold 5G spectrum worth $507 million in an auction aimed at boosting internet speeds. After the launch, telecom operators said they would initially launch 5G services in Islamabad and the provincial capitals, with plans to extend them to other areas of the country later.

In total, the government had sold 480 MHz of spectrum, although it had originally targeted 597 MHz. Three telecom operators — Jazz, Zong, and Ufone — secured frequencies to roll out next-generation mobile services.

Read: Govt borrows Rs801.7b in auctions

According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the auction resulted in the sale of two lots in the 700 MHz band, all five lots in the 2300 MHz band, all 19 lots in the 2600 MHz band, and 22 out of 28 lots in the 3500 MHz band, bringing the total spectrum sold to 480 MHz.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the government was providing “all possible facilitation” to investors in the digital and telecom sectors, citing the recent 5G spectrum auction, during a meeting with VEON Group CEO Kaan Terzioglu.

Terzioglu also appreciated the government’s efforts to enhance transparency and improve the investment climate, saying Pakistan had moved “swiftly” towards achieving a digital economy and rolling out 5G services.