Zong announces major 5G investment to upgrade 1,000+ sites across Pakistan

KARACHI: Following the acquisition of a 5G license, Zong, a subsidiary of China Mobile Limited, has launched a mega investment programme to upgrade more than 1,000 sites to 5G technology across Pakistan during 2026, accelerating the country’s transition towards next-generation mobile connectivity.

Zong, in Mach, announced to commercially launch fifth-generation (5G) services in Pakistan. Its coverage includes Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar and Quetta.

Technical trials recorded speeds above 1.4 gigabits per second, alongside ultra-low latency, according to figures shared by the company.

Talking to an exclusive media gathering in Karachi, Saira Mirza Deputy Director Corporate Brand Communications and Sustainability Zong said that Zong has positioned its investment as a contribution to Pakistan’s digital infrastructure, in line with the government’s Digital Pakistan vision, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) agenda and Vision 2030.

On the occasion Syed Ramis Ali manager Corporate Brand and Communications, and Hafiz Muhammad Imran Regional CTO South were also present.

She further informed that Pakistan’s telecom sector contributes around 5.4 percent to GDP and, given the country’s predominantly young population, investment in locally developed 5G, cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities could help accelerate the digital economy, promote entrepreneurship and skills development, and enable young Pakistanis to develop globally competitive products from within the country.

She said that, backed by China Mobile’s global R&D capabilities and Zong’s continued investment in Pakistan, Zong’s network is increasingly AI-enabled, using intelligent technologies to continuously optimize network performance and energy efficiency across thousands of sites.

“Zong plans to deploy and upgrade more than 1,000 5G sites across Pakistan during 2026, expanding a network that is already live in over 20 cities and positioning the operator to support growing demand for faster consumer and business connectivity”, Saira said.

Deputy Director Corporate Brand Communications Zong said that the rollout will benefit customers who remain on 4G. Additional spectrum is expected to reduce congestion in high-traffic areas, improving consistency and network performance while laying the groundwork for broader 5G expansion.

The operator’s infrastructure includes more than 17,000 sites and over 26,000 kilometres of fibre. Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used to optimise network performance, detect problems and improve energy efficiency. In Islamabad, Zong reported a 39 percent improvement in peak-hour throughput after deploying AI-enabled network capabilities, she informed.

For consumers, the company is developing 5G fixed wireless access for home broadband, gaming and streaming bundles, cloud storage, AI-assisted services, and smart-home products.

Businesses are being targeted with private networks, enterprise Internet of Things solutions and digitisation tools for sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture and logistics.

She mentioned that Zong is also supporting these services through Z SAIS, its locally hosted Tier III Intelligent Cloud Computing Center, with zones in Islamabad and Lahore and billing in Pakistani rupees.

As 5G adoption grows, the immediate test will be whether faster connectivity translates into affordable, reliable services and measurable productivity gains across the wider economy.

Saira said that Zong will continue to meet all PTA regulatory requirements and coverage obligations, while accelerating network deployment to strengthen market competitiveness and deliver an ultimate customer experience across Pakistan.