ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s mobile users, already frustrated by painfully slow internet and dropped calls, finally have an answer, and it’s alarming.
For years, millions across the country complained about poor mobile network quality, but authorities kept insisting that everything is fine. Now, during a high-level meeting of National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology, the real reason behind Pakistan’s sluggish mobile services has been exposed.
In a meeting chaired by Federal Minister Amin-ul-Haq, Chairman of Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) dropped bombshell while briefing committee on the latest Quality of Service survey. He revealed that only 15 percent of mobile towers in Pakistan are connected to fiber optic networks, while a staggering 85 percent are still running without fiberization, the backbone of modern high-speed mobile internet.
According to PTA Chairman, this massive lack of fiberization is the biggest reason behind slow internet speeds, poor call quality, and frequent network failures. Even more worrying, he warned that launching 5G without fixing fiberization could push the already broken system into complete chaos.
Committee members demanded full details of the fiberization plan and questioned mysterious “clusters” mentioned in official reports. Lawmakers openly vented their anger, saying that IT authorities repeatedly claim the service is excellent, while the public suffers daily. Members pointed out that mobile services have significantly deteriorated since the February 8 elections, raising serious questions about network management.
The committee also highlighted another hidden problem: faulty solar systems and battery failures at mobile towers, which they said are major contributors to ongoing service disruptions, especially during power outages.
Tensions rose when committee members stated that no solution is possible until the government officially admits there is a real crisis in mobile services. Some members bluntly remarked that if the PTA Chairman refuses to acknowledge the problem, discussions become meaningless.
MNA Sharmila Farooqi expressed shock over PTA’s claim of conducting fourth Quality of Service survey, saying she had no idea where these surveys were even being carried out. She demanded that future surveys be conducted openly in front of committee members, raising doubts over the credibility of existing reports.
Committee Chairman Amin-ul-Haq delivered a damning verdict, stating that lawmakers have lost trust in mobile data and call service quality altogether. “On paper everything looks perfect,” he said, “but the ground reality is completely different.”
Internet Users in Pakistan face Slow Internet speed; full details here
