'4G will remain primary mode of internet access for most Pakistanis': Zong's Director Strategy

Zong expects fourth-generation mobile service to remain the main internet option for most people in Pakistan for years, Business Recorder reported in an interview with the company’s Director of Strategy, Nabila Yazdani. She said the operator is extending fifth-generation coverage while also upgrading its existing network, with 5G now available in more than 35 cities. Zong acquired 110 MHz of spectrum in the March 2026 auction, which Yazdani said would add capacity for both network improvement and the gradual expansion of 5G.

The interview also described the pressures on telecom investment, including energy expenses, taxes, currency movements and imported equipment costs. Yazdani said Zong’s AI-based network optimisation pilot shortened the handling of congestion from several days to a period measured in minutes, while raising capacity by over 10% and downlink throughput by up to 18%. She also pointed to cloud, enterprise services and artificial intelligence as areas the company is developing beyond conventional mobile connectivity.