Telcos seek grid upgrades for 5G rollout

Telecom operators in Pakistan are urging the government to strengthen power grids, arguing that 5G sites draw about twice as much electricity as 4G networks, according to The Express Tribune. Jazz, the first operator to connect 1,000 sites to 5G, wants authorities to modernise power infrastructure as demand climbs, citing electric vehicles alongside 5G. Its president, Kazim Mujtaba, told reporters on Thursday that the grid stations feeding 5G cell sites must handle a greater load.

Jazz aims to reach 2,500 5G sites by end-2026 and has earmarked $1 billion for network growth across a horizon of two to three years. Mujtaba argued that 5G brings little direct gain for households, with its main uses in industrial, corporate and government services. He also suggested that smart buildings equipped with sensors could limit damage from incidents such as the recent PIMS Hospital fire in Islamabad, since an early warning would alert officials on their phones.

Mujtaba also said Pakistan needs more 5G-compatible handsets, and that a deal to sell devices on instalments is close, though banks are not yet ready to take on exposure tied to a proposed SIM blocking rule for defaulters. Sources at the Ministry of IT and Telecom said Zong has upgraded 350 sites and the Ufone-Telenor merged entity only 200, against Jazz's 1,000. The government, Jazz added, will also need to fund supporting infrastructure.