ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Jazz and Zong have slowly and steadily been rolling out 5G across various parts of Pakistan in various cities and zones. Although Ufone has also been permitted to do so, the company has yet to launch its 5G services.
Turning on 5G on your phone might not always be that simple. Here is what you need to know:
What you need
To access 5G in Pakistan, users need a 5G-compatible phone, 5G coverage, an updated operating system, and the correct network settings on their phone.
A 4G only phone will not be able to use 5G with the help of a software update; instead, it requires specific 5G hardware, and it should support the frequencies utilized by the local telecom operator.
Imported phones will require users to take careful consideration, as the same phone models available for sale in different regions support a range of frequencies. Users must compare the model number on their phone, and not just the phone brand name.
Users must ensure that their phones are PTA-approved and their SIM cards support 5G and mobile data.
Check your coverage first.
Before messing with any of the settings, users need to ensure that they have 5G coverage at their current location.
Both Jazz and Zong provide coverage maps that specify the exact locations where 5G is available across Pakistan.
However, it should be noted that coverage maps merely provide a guide, and actual network quality can be influenced by a number of factors, such as buildings, signal strength, terrain, local weather conditions, device support, and load on the network. Therefore, the chances of consistent 5G are slim even within specified coverage areas.
If users are outside of the specified coverage areas, their phone will continue using 4G connectivity regardless of whether the phone model is 5G enabled.
Check phone support
Users should verify if their operator acknowledges the phone model as 5G compatible from their respective lists. A detailed guide is available online showing users how they can find out if their phone is 5G compatible.
Both Jazz and Zong provide handset guides that can be used by users to check the support of their devices.
The most efficient way to identify the phone model is by navigating to Settings and selecting About Phone. On an iPhone, navigate to Settings, then select General, and then About.
Once the exact phone model is identified, users will need to cross-reference it with their operator’s list of compatible phones, as most brands have not been approved for 5G connectivity as of yet.
Enable 5G on iPhone
- To enable 5G on an iPhone, users will need to go into the cell phone settings menu.
- Select Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Voice & Data.
It is best to select 5G Auto for daily use because the phone automatically switches between 5G and 4G according to the signal and battery conditions of the phone.
It’s essential to use 5G Auto because 5G speeds will consume more battery power, and so the phone has to be switched to 4G when the 5G signal is not detected or to maximize the battery life.
On Samsung phones, users can find this setting within the mobile network options.
Go to Settings > Connections > Mobile Networks > Network Mode and select 5G/LTE/3G/2G Auto Connect. If the 5G option does not show up, it may be because the phone either does not support 5G, needs to be updated, or the operator does not currently recognize this model.
Turn on 5G on all other Android phones.
This process is more or less identical for almost all other Android phones.
- Select Settings > mobile networks > SIMs > connections > network & internet.
- Choose the SIM used for the internet and tap on the preferred network type or network mode.
- Select 5G/LTE/3G/2G Auto Connect. If dual SIM, then users will have to ensure that the mobile data connection is set on the desired SIM.
Update your software
A software or carrier setting may have to be updated before the 5G icon becomes available.
This can be done through Settings > General > Software Update on iPhones, and Settings > Software Update on Android devices (name varies from manufacturer to manufacturer).
After the software has been updated, the user must restart their phone and verify the network settings.
SIM and Data
Users will have to make sure mobile data is switched ON. If they are using two SIM cards, then ensure that the SIM card associated with the carrier offering 5G in your region is enabled for data.
Samsung recommends using a 5 G-capable SIM card from the operator, as it will avoid problems caused by the old SIM card that may not be compatible with 5G plans. If the data is not working at all, it will have to be enabled from the carrier before you turn your attention to 5G.
Why 5G may not be enabled
There are numerous reasons as to why a user may not find a 5G icon displayed. Perhaps the foremost reason is that the area is not covered by 5G service yet in Pakistan, as its rollout has still to be completed in every area.
Secondly, the devices need to be 5G compatible, and although a device may be enabled for 5G in some countries, the device may not necessarily be equipped with the specific band frequencies needed in Pakistan for its operation.
The third reason is the update on the software, and the fourth reason is the current settings of the network, which will have to be enabled to work for 5G. The fifth cause would then be the two SIM devices where the data has not been set to be utilized for a 5G enabling carrier.
