Syed Wajid
ANY national ecosystem requires performance indicators and benchmarks against which progress can be measured. Global indices provide a holistic view of progress in a particular area by aggregating multiple metrics into a score against which heterogeneous markets can be compared. These indices may be based on a single metric or a combination of metrics that cover intent and framework (De Jure), infrastructure and capacity (Enablers) and impact and outcome (De Facto). Analyzed deeply, these indices provide crucial insights for policymakers, regulators and investors during decision-making. An index investigated in isolation may only represent a partial picture of progress while ignoring ground realities. The same applies to the telecom industry, where multiple indices—if not evaluated together—fail to highlight the underlying issues needing immediate action. Three major global indices must be considered for a complete evaluation.
The ITU ICT Development Index (IDI) addresses nationwide connectivity and broadband adoption. Bypassing theoretical frameworks, the IDI directly measures physical enablers and on-ground realities. Pakistan significantly improved its global score from 56.4 in 2024 to 67.7 in 2025 but still lags peer countries like India (76.5) and Malaysia (87.3). The major improvements stemmed from mobile broadband penetration through initiatives like Universal Service Fund (USF) rural deployments and local smartphone assembly. However, high taxes on smartphones, low per-capita income, low fixed-broadband penetration and a high digital gender disparity remain severe bottlenecks.
Access to broadband services and adoption growth is half story, the Portulans Network Readiness Index (NRI) measures how that connectivity translates into human skills, enterprise usage and economic value. With its balanced approach, the NRI covers all three core areas: intent and frameworks, infrastructure and capacity and impact and outcomes. Pakistan’s performance on the NRI, ranking 95th out of 120 plus countries with a score of 39.5, raise a number of concerns across its measured variables. Ranking 48th in technology capability shows high scores in specific areas such as broadband internet traffic, ICT services exports and AI research publications. Conversely, lower scores in Governance (112th) and Digital Inclusion (125th) show high regulatory instability such as internet instability, heavy telecom duties, power grid instability and fixed broadband bottlenecks. These challenges make service access top-heavy, benefiting urban software houses and high-tech freelancers while leaving rural populations and women under served.
The Omdia Fiber Development Index (FDI) tracks and benchmarks fixed fiber broadband infrastructure and penetration—a key enabler of the modern digital economy. Pakistan stands near the bottom, ranking 78th out of 81 countries globally. Without assigning points to paper policies or mandates, the FDI directly evaluates physical enablers such as fiber assets, network coverage and ground-level performance outcomes like speed and adoption. The index clearly indicates how Pakistan lags in fiber-to-the-tower deployment, which stands at less than 20%, compared to India and Malaysia at 65% and 85%, respectively. Furthermore, active FTTH penetration remains below 8%. Major obstacles include the high capital cost of fiber deployment, expensive equipment imports and, above all, extreme difficulties and high costs associated with securing Right-of-Way permissions. Crucially, a low FDI directly drags down Pakistan’s standings in both the IDI and NRI.
The data indicates major structural areas requiring urgent policy attention. On top of the list is fiber penetration, which can be accelerated through standardized Right-of-Way policies and strict implementation across provincial and municipal jurisdictions, alongside targeted incentives for fixed broadband expansion. MoITT recently proposed the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill, 2026; however, mixing tower installations and underground fiber rights created controversy in the Senate Standing Committee. Legislation focused on a clean and simple fiber Right-of-Way will address the core infrastructure bottleneck without creating political or provincial friction.
Furthermore, regulatory consistency and service reliability must be prioritized. The regulator should enforce strict Quality of Service benchmarks and transparent traffic management practices to ensure uninterrupted, high-speed broadband nationwide. At the same time, rationalizing import costs and taxation, which currently restrict operators’ expansion capabilities, will bring significant improvements. Reclassifying telecom equipment as essential infrastructure by eliminating regulatory duties on networking equipment and rationalizing advance taxes will lower the cost of building FTTH networks and accelerate broadband adoption. Finally, aligning NEPRA power tariffs with the telecom sector’s official ‘industrial’ status will drastically reduce tower operating costs, freeing up crucial capital for nationwide fiber deployment.
—The writer is telecom and IT expert.
