A lack of fiberization across cell sites is hindering the performance of 5G services in Pakistan, resulting in slow internet speeds [1].

This infrastructure gap prevents the country from realizing the full potential of its 5G rollout. Without sufficient fiber optic cables connecting cell towers to the core network, the high-bandwidth capabilities of 5G cannot be delivered to end users.

As of June 2025, only 18% [1] of the 58,423 [1] cell sites in Pakistan were fiberized. This deficit creates a technical bottleneck where the wireless connection between the device and the tower is fast, but the backhaul connection to the rest of the internet remains limited.

Infrastructure development has not kept pace with the deployment of 5G technology. The disparity between the number of available sites and those actually connected via fiber suggests a significant gap in the national telecommunications strategy.

"Despite the recent rollout of 5G services in Pakistan, internet speeds remain frustratingly slow," a reporter for The Express Tribune said [1].

Industry experts said that the current level of fiberization is insufficient to support the data demands of a modern 5G network. The reliance on older or less efficient backhaul methods means that users may see the 5G icon on their devices without experiencing the promised speeds. Addressing this deficit requires extensive physical installation of fiber optic cables across the country's geography.

“Only 18% of the 58,423 cell sites in Pakistan were fiberized as of June 2025.”

The situation highlights a common challenge in emerging markets where the 'last mile' of hardware—the wireless signal—is upgraded before the underlying backbone infrastructure is ready. For Pakistan, this means that 5G currently acts more as a marketing milestone than a functional utility. Until the fiberization rate increases significantly, the country will likely experience a performance plateau, regardless of how many 5G towers are erected.