Major progress in telecom investment ahead of 5G launch in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Ahead of the planned 5G launch in early 2026, Pakistan has made significant progress in the telecom sector by facilitating investment and enabling smaller mobile operators.

The Ministry of IT has forwarded the MVNO license framework to the federal cabinet for approval.

This framework, pending for over a year, was initially submitted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) last November and aims to allow Mobile Virtual Network Operators to operate using leased networks from existing telecom providers.

Officials said consultations with international MVNOs were conducted to finalize the framework, and the Ministry of Law and Justice completed a legal review.

The MVNO license fee has been reduced from $500,000 to $140,000, and the license duration has been set at 15 years to encourage investment.

Under the framework, MVNOs will manage their own branding and customer services, while commercial agreements with existing mobile operators will require PTA approval.

The goal is to expand mobile services, increase competition, and attract more investment into the telecom sector.

Following federal government approval, the PTA will begin accepting MVNO license applications and issue licenses after fulfilling all legal requirements.

The government also plans to allow telecom operators to acquire additional spectrum during the 5G rollout, which they can lease to MVNOs, further enhancing market opportunities.

Officials expect that the approval of MVNO licenses will bring fresh investment to the sector, increase service availability, and create a more competitive telecom market in Pakistan.