ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s mobile networks are moving forward with 5G rollout but the quality of existing 4G still remains below par in parts of the country as users lament dropped calls, voice quality and other issues.
In Q1 2026 Quality of Service report, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority got data of 18 cities, testing calls that drop mid-conversation, messages that stop before sending, and fluctuations in internet speeds.
Jazz, the telecom giant that currently has around 75 million subscribers in Pakistan, remained ahead as compared to rivals, but the Voice quality doesn’t move in the same direction as data. Zong and Telenor, in particular, show uneven call performance, with latency and clarity slipping below par in several areas.
The report shows that data speeds continue to improve overall, persistent weaknesses in voice services, especially on Zong and Telenor networks, are raising serious questions about service consistency across the country. The nationwide drive covered 18 cities, with PTA field teams using automated QoS monitoring systems to test real-world network performance.
Evaluations were carried out across main roads, service lanes, and dense residential and commercial zones, measuring voice call quality, SMS delivery, and mobile broadband speeds under real usage conditions. The exercise was conducted to assess compliance with NGMS licensing terms and the Cellular Mobile Network Quality of Service Regulations 2021.
Operators were ranked across four key pillars, coverage, broadband performance, voice quality, and SMS reliability, with results benchmarked against regulatory thresholds. Jazz remained ahead in download speeds, securing the top position in broadband throughput during the survey period. The operator’s performance reinforces its dominance in high-demand data services, particularly in urban and semi-urban clusters.
Zong recorded stronger upload speeds compared to competitors, which is more balanced upstream performance in select regions, even as its overall service consistency remains under scrutiny.
Despite stable progress in data services, voice networks showed visible strain. PTA flagged that several operators failed to consistently meet required thresholds for call quality and latency in multiple locations.
Telenor was the most affected, with noticeable degradation in voice performance metrics compared to peers. Zong also faced challenges in maintaining stable call quality across surveyed areas, highlighting a broader industry issue beyond just a single operator.
The report shows growing technological divide in network performance. Operators leveraging LTE Carrier Aggregation and VoLTE consistently delivered better results in both speed and call stability, signaling a clear advantage for networks investing in advanced infrastructure upgrades.
PTA formally directed all mobile operators to address identified deficiencies and bring their networks in line with regulatory standards. The authority emphasized that corrective measures must be implemented without delay, as part of ongoing enforcement under NGMS obligations.
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