Ufone set to launch 5G services

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has granted Ufone commercial operation rights, which enable Pakistan to establish its third telecommunications company, which will deliver 5G services.

The regulator has issued a commencement letter to the company, which establishes the main requirement that must be fulfilled before the company can begin its official rollout.

Ufone plans to introduce its 5G service within the upcoming days after this development. Telecom operators must conduct testing at either their chosen network sites or their randomly selected sites after they obtain their 5G license through standard regulatory procedures.

PTA then inspects those sites and checks whether they meet the required technical and service standards. The operator can start commercial service operations after the regulator issues a commencement letter, which indicates that the regulator has completed its satisfaction assessment.

The PTA completed its allocation process for the NGMS/5G auction of Pakistan’s 5G spectrum auction, which took place on March 10, 2026. The phase resulted in the sale of 480 megahertz of spectrum, which Jazz acquired through 190 megahertz, Ufone through 180 megahertz, and Zong through 110 megahertz.

The PTA announced that operators could plan their networks and start commercial 5G services after the assignment phase ended on March 14, 2026. Jazz and Zong became the first two operators to immediately start their operations after receiving their licenses.

The companies applied for their commencement letters on the same day they obtained their licenses, which the PTA issued on that same day. The two operators introduced their 5G services on March 19, 2026, which represented Pakistan’s first commercial 5G service launch.