Pakistan Targets 7.5 Million Fiber-Connected Homes in Coming Years

Pakistan aims to extend fiber-optic connectivity to 7.5 million households and achieve 80 percent fiber-to-the-site (FTTS) coverage over the next five years, according to the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT). These targets are part of the National Fiberization Policy currently under development, with an emphasis on enhancing fixed broadband infrastructure and achieving average download speeds of 60 Mbps across the country. The policy is being formulated under the Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP), with the hiring of a dedicated Project Management Unit (PMU) underway. Once finalized, the PMU will engage a consultancy firm to shape the policy through a competitive process. The effort is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and lay the groundwork for future technologies such as 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT). Private sector investment is a central pillar of the policy. The government is focusing on removing long-standing barriers such as high deployment costs, right-of-way (RoW) issues, and regulatory inefficiencies. The policy proposes rationalizing RoW fees and introducing streamlined approval procedures, aimed at accelerating network deployment and reducing financial burdens on telecom operators. According to MoITT, Pakistan currently has approximately 211,473 kilometers of deployed optical fiber cable, including 75,967 km of long-haul and 135,506 km of metro fiber networks. Despite this footprint, the rapid growth in internet demand and evolving technology standards necessitate a significant scale-up. The policy’s five-year scope includes provisions for enhancing network resilience, particularly in long-haul connectivity. The Telecom Wing of MoITT is leading the drafting process in collaboration with stakeholders, including the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and telecom operators. The policy is expected to be finalized by the end of the year. It includes multiple consultation phases to address cost-sharing models, single-window approvals, and infrastructure sharing. The framework also aligns with economic objectives, such as promoting local manufacturing and reducing dependency on imported fiber components.