ISLAMABAD

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has released the results of its Quality of Service (QoS) Survey for the first quarter of 2026, assessing the performance of cellular mobile operators across 18 cities nationwide and highlighting both improvements and persistent service quality challenges.

The survey, conducted between January and March 2026, evaluated mobile network coverage, voice services, SMS performance, and mobile broadband quality using advanced automated monitoring and benchmarking tools. Testing was carried out on major roads, residential neighborhoods, and commercial areas to gauge the real-world experience of telecom consumers.

According to the findings, mobile operators generally met regulatory standards for data services, with Jazz emerging as the strongest performer in download speeds while Zong demonstrated notable strength in upload throughput.

However, PTA identified shortcomings in certain voice and network latency indicators, with some operators failing to meet the performance benchmarks outlined in their licenses and the Cellular Mobile Network Quality of Service Regulations 2021. Telenor was among the operators facing challenges in specific voice and latency performance metrics.

The survey also found that operators deploying advanced technologies such as LTE Carrier Aggregation and Voice over LTE (VoLTE) delivered a superior user experience, benefiting subscribers with improved connectivity and service quality.

PTA said it has directed telecom operators to take corrective measures where deficiencies were identified and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. The regulator emphasized that continuous monitoring remains essential to improving consumer experience and maintaining healthy competition within Pakistan’s telecom sector.

The latest assessment reflects PTA’s ongoing efforts to enhance service quality, strengthen accountability among operators, and ensure that mobile users receive reliable and high-quality telecom services across the country.