Islamabad: High speed 5G services have entered trial operations in seven locations across Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan, bringing next generation connectivity to some of Pakistan’s most difficult terrain.
The Special Communications Organisation activated the trial services at seven sites, with 20 more locations planned by the end of 2026. This would take the total number of active 5G sites in the two regions to 27.
The development is significant because both regions include mountainous and remote communities where reliable digital connectivity can be particularly important for access to services and economic activity.
The SCO, a public sector organisation established in 1976 to develop and operate telecommunications services in AJK and GB, has built more than 4,800 kilometres of optical fibre network across the regions.
The organisation said the 5G deployment could create opportunities in tourism, education, healthcare, business and public services. Earlier testing in Gilgit had also highlighted potential applications including e commerce, online education, telemedicine and digital entrepreneurship.
For tourism dependent areas, faster connectivity could improve digital payments, online bookings, navigation and communication services. In education and healthcare, higher speed networks could support remote learning and telemedicine where physical access can be difficult.
The expansion also comes as Pakistan works to extend its broader digital infrastructure. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said earlier this month that the country was expanding fibre optic connections and targeting high speed wired broadband for 10 million households.
The current rollout remains a trial rather than full scale commercial deployment across AJK and GB. The planned additional sites will determine how quickly the technology moves beyond selected locations.
