Plan to make 5G handsets ‘affordable’ hits roadblock

“ISLAMABAD: A policy proposal that could put 5G-enabled handsets in the hands of more and more Pakistanis seems to have hit a snag, with the government still awaiting a response from certain industry stakeholders. The proposal to make costly smartphones available to purchase on instalments, has been in the works for some time. The need for the policy has become more apparent after the 5G spectrum auction held on March 10. Stakeholders expect that once the new technology is rolled out, it will lead to an increase of 4G mobile telecom services in remote and currently underserved areas, raising the demand for smartphones in the coming months. Insiders say Jazz had been pushing for the policy, as it will allow lower-income groups and non-earners such as students to have smartphones at affordable instalments. All three major telcos have publicly expressed support for the move, but sources say not everyone ‘on board’ However, sources in the IT ministry and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) — the government arms involved with the policy-making process and the institutions that will oversee its rollout — told Dawn that although all major telecom service providers had publicly committed to the initiative, certain parties had yet to formally submit their response to the government. Just last month, Zong had become the third major telco (after Jazz and Ufone) to sign up for the plan, with a company official arguing that with the rollout of 5G services, such a move will help cater to rising demand for high-end handsets. Zong has forwarded its suggestion to the government regarding sale of mobile phones on instalments, Sajid Munir, head of marketing at Zong, said at a recent media workshop. But sources told Dawn that both the IT ministry and PTA are still awaiting Zong’s official response. When approached for comment, a company spokesperson said the company fully supports the industry-wide initiative to enhance access to 5G-enabled smartphones through handset financing solutions. “We are working closely with the regulator and industry stakeholders to finalise a framework that is beneficial for customers and the broader industry alike,” the spokesperson said. Separately, speaking to the media last week, Jazz President Kazim Mujtaba said that the policy was not only focused on low-income groups. “Several people want to get a 5G-compatible phone set but cannot afford to buy it on cash payment,” he noted. He also suggested that after the rollout of 5G, the government should launch projects under the Universal Support Fund (USF) to ensure connectivity along motorways. “There is no business case for individual companies to invest along the motorways, but the connectivity can be ensured through the USF financing,” he said. Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2026

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