PTA Mobile Network Issues Found at 166 Sites
PTA mobile network issues were found across 166 sites during a week-long monitoring drive, and telecom operators have been told to fix the problems within a set timeframe. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority carried out the checks between October 15 and 22.
The inspections covered mobile coverage and the quality of voice and internet services. They were run through the authority’s 12 zonal offices, working with relevant stakeholders across the country.
The areas visited were Karachi, Quetta, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Kasur, Pattoki, Kot Radha Kishan, Nowshera Virkan, Torghar, Faisalabad and Gilgit-Baltistan. The spread shows the drive was not limited to big cities. Smaller towns and remote districts were included in the same round of checks.
PTA mobile network issues: what the checks found
The authority said the inspections found problems with coverage and service quality at the sites visited. It did not name individual operators or publish a site-by-site breakdown in its announcement. Operators have been directed to resolve the problems within the specified timeframe.
The authority said it would keep working with telecom operators, relevant organisations and local administrations to improve network performance and deliver more reliable services to consumers across Pakistan.
For users, the findings match a familiar complaint. Dropped calls, slow mobile data and weak signals in certain areas have been raised by consumers for years, and the regulator’s own monitoring is meant to turn those complaints into fixes.
Parliament debate puts 5G in the spotlight
The monitoring drive comes as the quality of mobile service is under debate in Parliament. During Friday’s National Assembly session, PPP lawmaker Aseefa Bhutto Zardari said neither 4G nor 5G was working properly in Nawabshah. Presiding officer Abdul Qadir Patel questioned the push for 5G when existing services remained unreliable.
Parliamentary Secretary for IT Sabeen Ghauri told the House that 5G was available in 24 cities, with nationwide expansion expected to take another two years. That timeline means most users will rely on 4G for some time yet, which makes the quality of existing networks more important, not less.
A PTA report based on second-quarter 2026 data found that 4G users averaged download speeds of 18.9 Mbps, while 5G was available for just 3.95 per cent of users’ connected time. The figures underline how limited 5G reach remains outside the cities where it has been switched on.
What users in the checked areas can expect
The next step is for operators to report back on fixes at the sites where problems were found. Users in Karachi, Quetta, Faisalabad and the smaller towns on the list should see the effect in fewer dead zones and steadier data speeds if the fixes are carried out.
The drive also sets a baseline for the next round of checks. If the same sites are revisited, the regulator will be able to show whether service improved or stayed the same.
Feature Pakistan also covered the lawmakers’ questions over the 5G rollout, the IT secretary’s difficulty in explaining 5G in the National Assembly, the PTCL Group’s Rs47 billion profit in the third quarter of 2026 and the FBR’s mobile phone tax instalment plan.
Frequently asked questions
How many sites did the PTA check?
The authority monitored 166 mobile sites across the country between October 15 and 22, through its 12 zonal offices.
Which areas were covered?
Karachi, Quetta, Jacobabad, Khairpur, Rahim Yar Khan, Kasur, Pattoki, Kot Radha Kishan, Nowshera Virkan, Torghar, Faisalabad and Gilgit-Baltistan.
What must operators do now?
Operators have been directed to resolve the coverage and service-quality problems found, within a specified timeframe.
How widely available is 5G in Pakistan?
Parliament was told 5G is available in 24 cities, with nationwide expansion expected to take another two years. A PTA report found 5G available for just 3.95 per cent of users’ connected time in the second quarter of 2026.
