PTA Expands Mobile Network Quality Surveys to Lahore, Karachi and Other Major Cities

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced that it will extend its mobile network quality inspections to Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and additional major urban centres in the coming days, after completing a field assessment in the capital region of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

The upcoming surveys will evaluate network coverage, call quality, internet connectivity and overall service performance, with the goal of pinpointing weaknesses and raising the standard of mobile services for Pakistani consumers.

Why the PTA Is Conducting New Surveys

Since its establishment in 1996, the PTA has been the statutory regulator for all telecommunications activities in Pakistan. Its mandate includes licensing operators, managing spectrum, and ensuring that service providers meet minimum quality standards set out in the Telecom Policy 2015 and subsequent regulations.

In recent years, rapid growth in smartphone adoption and data consumption has strained existing 4G infrastructure. The regulator responded by auctioning 5G spectrum in early 2024, a historic step that introduced the prospect of fifth-generation services in the country. However, the rollout of new technology depends on a solid foundation of coverage and reliability, especially in densely populated cities where demand is highest.

Field surveys are a core tool the PTA uses to verify that operators comply with the Quality of Service (QoS) benchmarks. The surveys involve on-the-ground measurements of signal strength, dropped call rates, data throughput and latency at a range of public and private locations, from busy market streets to residential neighbourhoods.

What the Islamabad and Rawalpindi Surveys Covered

The authority's recent inspections in Islamabad and Rawalpindi followed a structured methodology. Senior PTA officials, accompanied by representatives from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications and senior engineers from the three major mobile network operators, Jazz, Telenor Pakistan and Zong, visited over 50 sites across the twin cities.

At each site, teams used calibrated equipment to record key performance indicators (KPIs) such as Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), hand-over success rates and average download/upload speeds. The data were logged in a central database that feeds into the PTA's real-time monitoring dashboard.

According to PTA officials, the field monitoring is already underway across the country. Regional offices dispatch teams, accompanied by local administration representatives, to regularly visit different cities and areas to identify connectivity problems and assess the quality of mobile services.

Planned Approach for Lahore and Karachi

For Lahore and Karachi, the PTA will replicate the Islamabad-Rawalpindi model. The surveys will be conducted in the coming days and will involve the same mix of stakeholders: PTA senior officials, Ministry of IT&T representatives, and technical staff from the three leading operators.

Both cities present distinct challenges. Lahore, with its historic architecture and dense residential clusters, often experiences signal attenuation inside narrow lanes and older buildings. Karachi, Pakistan's commercial hub, faces high user density in business districts and a sprawling suburban landscape that stretches network capacity.

By targeting a representative sample of locations, including commercial markets, university campuses, hospitals and public transport hubs, the PTA aims to generate a comprehensive picture of network performance that reflects everyday user experience.

Impact on Consumers and Operators

For consumers, the surveys translate into more reliable voice calls, fewer dropped connections and faster, more consistent mobile internet speeds. The PTA's findings will be compiled into a detailed report that highlights specific deficiencies and recommends corrective actions.

Operators are required to submit remediation plans within a stipulated timeframe after the report's submission. Non-compliance can trigger penalties under the PTA's enforcement framework, which includes fines, suspension of licences or mandatory infrastructure upgrades.

In the longer term, the data gathered will inform the regulator's strategy for 5G rollout. The PTA has indicated that after the auction of 5G spectrum, it will focus on both the deployment of fifth-generation services in major cities and the enhancement of existing 4G networks to ensure a smooth transition.

Regulatory Framework and Enforcement Mechanisms

The PTA's quality-of-service regulations are codified in the Pakistan Telecommunication (Quality of Service) Regulations 2017. These regulations set minimum thresholds for parameters such as call setup success rate (minimum 95 %), voice quality MOS (Mean Opinion Score) of at least 3.5, and average data speed of 10 Mbps for 4G services in urban areas.

If an operator falls below these thresholds for more than three consecutive monitoring periods, the PTA can issue a notice of violation. The operator then has 30 days to present a corrective action plan. Failure to comply may result in monetary penalties up to Rs. 10 million per day of continued non-compliance.

What to Watch for Next

The PTA will publish the detailed report on the Islamabad and Rawalpindi surveys within the next two weeks. That document will outline the specific gaps identified, the operators' proposed fixes, and a timeline for implementation.

Following the Lahore and Karachi inspections, similar reports are expected for Peshawar and other major cities. Stakeholders, including consumer advocacy groups, industry analysts and the general public, will monitor the regulator's next steps, especially any enforcement actions taken against operators that do not meet the mandated standards.

In parallel, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications is expected to release an implementation roadmap for 5G services, outlining spectrum allocation, rollout phases and the expected timeline for commercial launch in the major metros.

Overall, the coordinated effort by the PTA, the Ministry and mobile operators aims to create a more robust telecommunications ecosystem that can support the country's digital economy, e-learning initiatives and emerging smart-city projects.

For consumers, the immediate benefit will be clearer, more stable connections in daily life. For operators, the surveys provide a benchmark to gauge network performance, prioritize upgrades and demonstrate compliance with national standards.

As Pakistan moves toward broader 5G adoption, the quality of the underlying 4G infrastructure will remain a critical factor. The PTA's expanded survey programme is a decisive step toward ensuring that the nation's mobile networks are ready for the next generation of digital services.