Zong has recorded download speeds exceeding 1.4Gbps during its pre-launch 5G field trials conducted in Islamabad and other urban centres, according to a statement released on Wednesday. The company said the speeds were recorded consistently during testing, attributing the performance to upgraded infrastructure and improvements in network architecture. Enhanced “output-to-spectrum” efficiency could allow operators to deliver higher data speeds while optimising limited spectrum resources, a key consideration for the commercial rollout of 5G services. Earlier this month, Pakistan generated $510 million (around Rs142 billion) from the landmark auction of Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) spectrum, while the telecom regulator successfully completed the position assignment auction to determine the exact placement of spectrum blocks secured by operators. Rolling out 5G nationwide will require substantial investments in infrastructure, including in high-capacity fibre-optic cables, upgraded towers and denser network grids, even as telecom operators navigate heavy taxation and regulatory burdens. Making 5G a broad economic enabler rather than a premium service for a narrow segment also hinges on affordability in a country still battling a deep digital divide between urban and rural populations, and between those who can access advanced devices and those who cannot.