Pakistani iPhone users can now access 5G internet on two of the country’s major telecom networks, Jazz and Zong. This is a significant development because, until now, even iPhones with 5G hardware built in could not connect to 5G in Pakistan. Apple controls 5G activation through official carrier settings, meaning no workarounds such as VPNs or jailbreaking could unlock it. That barrier has now been officially removed.
How Zong Is Doing It
Zong’s 5G access for iPhones currently requires users to install the iOS 26.5 Public Beta. To get it, users need to enroll in Apple’s Beta Software Program through Safari on their iPhone. Once the beta is installed, they must go to Settings and manually turn on “5G Auto” or “5G On” under cellular settings. Speed tests conducted near Zong towers have shown download speeds between 244 Mbps and 290 Mbps, which is a massive jump from what most Pakistanis experience on 4G. Zong has already activated commercial 5G services across more than 16 cities and has plans to expand to over 1,000 sites across Pakistan by the end of 2026.
How Jazz Is Doing It
Jazz has announced that 5G is now available for iPhones on the latest stable iOS version, meaning users do not need to install any beta software. Jazz currently runs close to 180 pilot 5G sites across major cities. Users inside active Jazz 5G coverage zones need to manually enable 5G in their phone settings. Jazz has also enabled 5G support for select Samsung Galaxy devices, making it a broader rollout than just Apple.
The Spectrum Auction That Made This Possible
This development is a direct result of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s major spectrum auction held in March 2026. The PTA sold 480 MHz of 5G spectrum across multiple frequency bands and collected $507 million from the auction. Jazz, Zong, and Ufone all successfully purchased spectrum. Jazz secured frequencies across the 700 MHz, 2300 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3500 MHz bands, which allows it to offer both wide coverage and high-capacity 5G service. Ufone also bought spectrum but has not yet announced official 5G support for iPhones.
What This Means for You
The most user-friendly aspect of this rollout is that existing 4G data packages work on the new 5G networks without any changes. If you have a 5G-capable iPhone and an active Jazz or Zong SIM, you can start testing these faster speeds right now by simply updating your phone and enabling 5G in settings. The era of next-generation mobile internet in Pakistan has officially begun.