By Hasan Salahuddin

China’s telecommunications sector is a global exemplar, with over 4.83 million 5G base stations deployed by the end of 2025 and gigabit optical networks covering every county, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. This robust digital infrastructure supports one of the world’s largest internet economies and offers valuable lessons for countries like Pakistan seeking to accelerate digital transformation.

Pakistan’s telecom landscape is also expanding, with over 200 million subscribers and more than 150 million broadband connections. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s Annual Report 2024–25 highlights continued sectoral growth, with revenues exceeding PKR 1 trillion and broadband penetration surpassing 60%. However, as Pakistan moves toward a phased 5G rollout under new spectrum policies, experts caution that infrastructure expansion alone will not be sufficient.

Structural challenges such as energy instability, regulatory inconsistency, and limited rural connectivity must also be addressed. Dr Muhammad Hashim Dahri, Assistant Professor of Telecommunication Engineering at Dawood University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, told Wealth Pakistan that Pakistan’s youth have the potential to compete globally but require consistent policy support. “Pakistan’s youth have the ability to compete at an international level, but they need a push to build industry, similar to China,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of supporting small-scale and emerging industries as part of a broader innovation base that can ultimately contribute to the country’s technology and telecom ecosystem. He also stressed the need to stabilize energy infrastructure, particularly to ensure reliable mobile internet services in rural areas. Dr Dahri further noted that Pakistan must introduce significant improvements in conventional system design to support higher internet speeds at the backbone level.

He pointed to ongoing research in semiconductor technologies at local universities, suggesting that targeted investment could help gradually strengthen Pakistan’s capabilities in this field. Dr Hafiz Ahmed Ullah, Assistant Professor in the Department of Construction Management at the Institute for Art and Culture, Lahore, highlighted China’s extensive use of public-private partnerships in expanding 4G and 5G networks. He said similar models could help improve Pakistan’s network coverage and service quality.

He also noted that China’s integration of telecommunications with digital payments, e-commerce, and cloud computing has created a strong digital ecosystem. He suggested that Pakistan should focus on developing platforms that support digital trade, online businesses, and freelancing to strengthen its digital economy. Amber Tahir, Executive Engineer at Syscom, emphasized that China’s progress has been driven by sustained, long-term investment in fiber networks and next-generation technologies, particularly in underserved regions.

She highlighted the importance of regulatory stability and consistent policies, noting that Pakistan needs to streamline its regulatory framework and ensure continuity across political cycles. She added that public-private collaboration can play a key role in improving service delivery and infrastructure expansion. She also stressed the need to reduce data costs, enhance digital literacy, and support local technology firms to promote broader digital inclusion.

Experts note that while China’s experience offers important lessons, its scale, centralized governance structure, and state-led financing model may not be directly replicable in Pakistan. However, selected elements — such as policy consistency, investment in digital infrastructure, and ecosystem development — can be adapted to local conditions. For Pakistan, telecom sector growth will depend not only on expanding infrastructure but also on coordinated progress in energy reliability, regulatory stability, digital skills development, and innovation capacity.

Credit: INP-WealthPk