Pakistan expands digital infrastructure for AI push
Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said Pakistan’s digital infrastructure for AI had significantly expanded through a major spectrum auction, 5G deployment and nationwide fibre-optic connectivity to meet rising demand for digital services.
Addressing a high-level panel at the Global Digital and AI Summit in Seoul, South Korea, she said Pakistan viewed artificial intelligence primarily as a network challenge under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Digital Nation Pakistan vision.
Spectrum auction and 5G rollout
Khawaja said Pakistan conducted its largest-ever spectrum auction in March 2026, acquiring 480 MHz of spectrum for $509 million. The auction increased telecom operators’ combined holdings from 274 MHz to 754 MHz.
Within six months of the auction, 5G services had been launched at more than 1,700 sites across 24 major cities, delivering average speeds of 130 Mbps, she said.
Download speeds had risen by 68.1 per cent over two years, while more than 234,000 kilometres of optical fibre cable had been deployed nationwide. The government had abolished right-of-way charges to reduce costs and accelerate fibre expansion.
International connectivity and corridors
Pakistan was connected to international networks through six submarine cables with combined capacity exceeding 17 terabits per second, the minister said. The country was also developing the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Digital Corridor to connect Central Asia with the wider world.
On remote-area connectivity, Khawaja said regulators were finalising a framework for satellite communications and licensing to facilitate direct-to-device services. Satellite technology would complement, rather than replace, terrestrial networks, she added.
New frameworks for mobile virtual network operators and infrastructure sharing had also been introduced to attract investment.
Digital inclusion numbers
On digital inclusion, the minister said the Universal Service Fund had provided connectivity to more than 38 million people across 22,100 settlements in over 110 districts.
Pakistan had assembled 17.6 million smartphones locally in 2025, while instalment plans were being introduced to widen access. The gender gap in mobile connectivity had narrowed from 25 per cent to 8 per cent, she added, citing World Bank reports.
Khawaja also said Pakistan’s ranking in the International Telecommunication Union’s ICT Development Index 2026 had improved by 27 places. She described universal connectivity as an unfinished promise, urging stakeholders to share investment risks and make connectivity the foundation for AI-driven growth.
Why this matters for Pakistan’s AI ambitions
The framing of AI as a “network challenge” is significant. Advanced AI applications, from cloud-based models to real-time services, need reliable high-speed connectivity and local data-centre capacity. Pakistan’s pitch in Seoul was that the network foundations are now being laid at scale.
The numbers tell a mixed but improving story. A 68 per cent rise in download speeds and 5G across 24 cities mark real progress, though Pakistan still trails regional peers on fixed broadband penetration. The abolition of right-of-way charges addresses a long-standing industry complaint that had slowed fibre rollout.
This week’s broader AI coverage, including our roundup of developments in AI, shows how quickly the sector is moving. For Pakistan, the test will be whether infrastructure gains translate into AI adoption by businesses and public services.
What to watch
The satellite communications framework, once finalised, could extend coverage to areas where terrestrial networks are uneconomical. The CAREC Digital Corridor, meanwhile, positions Pakistan as a transit route for Central Asian data traffic.
Investors will watch whether the new MVNO and infrastructure-sharing frameworks draw fresh capital into the telecom sector, and whether the 5G rollout extends beyond the initial 24 cities.
Source: The Express Tribune
FAQs
What did the IT minister announce in Seoul?
Shaza Fatima Khawaja outlined Pakistan’s digital infrastructure expansion: a $509 million spectrum auction, 5G at 1,700+ sites in 24 cities, 234,000km of fibre, and six submarine cables with 17+ Tbps capacity.
How much spectrum did Pakistan auction?
480 MHz for $509 million in March 2026, raising operators’ combined holdings from 274 MHz to 754 MHz.
What is the Digital Nation Pakistan vision?
It is the government’s programme under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to digitise the economy and public services, with AI adoption framed as depending on strong network foundations.
What is the CAREC Digital Corridor?
A planned digital corridor under the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation programme to connect Central Asia with wider global networks through Pakistan.
