Zong, Pakistan's leading technology services enterprise, demonstrated its 5G-ready network, intelligent capabilities and indoor DAS solution during the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority's (PTA) on-ground Quality of Experience (QoE) assessment across Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
What Was Tested and Who Led the Assessment?
The assessment formed part of PTA's wider multi-city survey. It was led by PTA Chairman Major General (Retd.) Hafeez Ur Rehman, who personally tested voice call quality and mobile internet services. Senior PTA officials present included Member (Finance) Muhammad Naveed, Member (Compliance and Enforcement) Dr. Khawar Siddique Khokhar, Member (Telecom) Muhammad Jahanzeb Rahim and DG (Enforcement) Brigadier (Retd.) Amer Shahzad. Representatives from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT), other mobile network operators, media and Zong leadership also participated.
How the On-Ground Assessment Was Conducted
Three dedicated teams carried out parallel field assessments across the twin cities. They measured real-world voice and data experiences, focusing on download speeds, call stability, connectivity and service continuity at multiple locations. The methodology mirrored PTA's standard QoE protocol, which involves repeated calls, data sessions and mobility tests during peak and off-peak periods to capture authentic consumer experience.
Why the Twin Cities Assessment Matters for Zong
The field results reinforce Zong's leading position in PTA's independently published Q2 2026 Quality of Service (QoS) Survey and the Mobile Network Experience Benchmarking reports from Opensignal. Both sources rank Zong highest for speed, reliability and latency among Pakistan's operators. The assessment also highlighted Zong's extensive 5G rollout: more than 1,000 5G sites nationwide, including over 275 5G-enabled sites in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the highest concentration in the industry.
What Sets Zong's Network Apart?
Zong has the industry-highest number of 1,000 sites in the twin cities, a metric that reflects both coverage breadth and capacity depth. The company continues to expand network capacity, reduce congestion and improve data performance, especially in high-traffic zones and during peak usage hours. Advanced technologies such as Carrier Aggregation combine multiple spectrum carriers, delivering greater bandwidth, optimizing spectrum utilization and boosting overall efficiency.
Indoor 5G DAS at Islamabad International Airport
Islamabad International Airport served as a key demonstration site. Zong is the only operator to have deployed a 5G active Distributed Antenna System (DAS) Indoor Building Solution (IBS) inside the airport. The system provides seamless indoor connectivity, supporting next-generation digital and intelligent travel experiences. A dedicated Customer Facilitation Desk at the airport offers travelers on-site SIM activation, data services and technical support, illustrating Zong's commitment to extending high-performance connectivity beyond traditional outdoor coverage.
PTA's Initial Findings and Future Monitoring
PTA noted that initial findings reflected Zong's strong network performance and improvements in quality and reliability across the surveyed areas. The regulator emphasized that the assessment aimed to evaluate actual consumer experience, identify potential service gaps and drive further improvements. PTA reaffirmed its commitment to sustained field monitoring, evidence-based evaluation and close coordination with operators to strengthen service quality and ensure continuous improvement across the sector.
Strategic Implications for Zong's Transformation
For Zong, network excellence underpins its transformation from a pure connectivity provider to a technology services enterprise. The robust infrastructure enables the rollout of intelligent, technology-led services such as cloud platforms, IoT solutions and enterprise networking. Independent assessments consistently recognize Zong's performance across speed, reliability and latency, reinforcing its credibility with enterprise customers and public sector partners.
What Lies Ahead for Zong and Pakistan's Digital Landscape?
Zong has pledged to continue working with PTA and industry partners to advance network excellence and accelerate Pakistan's digital transformation. Ongoing investment in 5G, spectrum efficiency and indoor solutions is expected to bridge the digital divide, unlock new economic opportunities and contribute to an inclusive, digitally empowered society. Stakeholders will watch for further field assessments, updates to the Q2 2026 QoS Survey and future Opensignal benchmarking releases to gauge progress.
Overall, the PTA twin-city QoE assessment confirms Zong's leadership in delivering high-performance 5G services, both outdoors and indoors, and underscores the operator's role in shaping Pakistan's next-generation digital ecosystem.
