Government Targets 50/100 Mbps Broadband Speed, 60% FTTS Coverage by 2025

Islamabad: The government has set ambitious targets for the year 2025, aiming to achieve an average broadband speed of 50/100 Mbps and expand Fiber-To-The-Site (FTTS) coverage to 60 percent.

These objectives are part of the broader plan to position 2025 as the “Year of 5G,” as announced during the National Broadband Network Forum 2024, hosted by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in collaboration with Huawei.

Amer Shahzad, Director General (DG) of Licensing at PTA, outlined the government’s strategic plan, emphasizing that the auction for 5G spectrums is anticipated to occur in April 2025, a significant advancement for the nation’s digital framework.

Shahzad noted that Fixed Broadband (FBB) penetration in Pakistan stands at less than 2% at present, but the government has set an ambitious target to increase this number to 20% over the next five years. He also pointed out that the current average broadband speed of 15 Mbps is aimed to increase to 50/100 Mbps.

A key challenge, according to Shahzad, is the limited FTTS coverage, which is currently at just 20%. The government aims to expand FTTS to 60%. Telecom Optical Fibre Cable(OFC) is the backbone of telecom infrastructure that is essential in connecting humanity and supporting the deployment of 5G. As a result of the growth in demand for broadband services, the government has developed the National Fiberization Plan to increase OFC coverage and FTTS deployment.

Shahzad also proposed the introduction of 1 Gbps connectivity in Islamabad, with a vision for national expansion. He added that the government of Kenya wants to extend the fiber optic coverage to 500,000 kilometers within the next five years, up from the current 200,000 kilometers. PTA’s annual report shows that significant progress has been made in expanding telecom coverage nationwide, enhancing accessibility and connectivity for millions of Pakistanis.