Ufone Nearly Catches Jazz as Subscribers Pass 211m
Ufone nearly catches Jazz in Pakistan’s cellular market, with only 150,000 subscribers now separating the two largest operators. Pakistan’s total cellular subscriber base reached 211.47 million in September 2026, according to data cited by Arif Habib Limited, after adding about 300,000 subscribers in the month.
Jazz remained the country’s largest operator with 76.44 million subscribers, a market share of 36.15 per cent. Ufone followed closely with 76.29 million subscribers and a share of 36.08 per cent. Zong held 56.62 million subscribers, or 26.78 per cent of the market, while SCO had 2.12 million subscribers, or about one per cent.
Ufone nearly catches Jazz: the September numbers
The gap between Jazz and Ufone narrowed from 210,000 subscribers in August to 150,000 in September. Ufone recorded the highest net additions so far this calendar year, adding 4.83 million subscribers. Zong followed with 3.48 million additions, while Jazz added 2.58 million.
| Operator | Subscribers | Market share |
|---|---|---|
| Jazz | 76.44 million | 36.15 per cent |
| Ufone | 76.29 million | 36.08 per cent |
| Zong | 56.62 million | 26.78 per cent |
| SCO | 2.12 million | About one per cent |
| Total | 211.47 million | 100 per cent |
The subscriber base grew by 0.14 per cent month on month in September. Since December 2025, it has expanded by 5.4 per cent, with net additions of 10.91 million taking the total from 200.56 million to 211.47 million. The market grew steadily through the year, from 202.6 million subscribers in January to about 211.5 million in September.
One detail matters for readers of the table. The Ufone figure now includes former Telenor Pakistan customers, who moved under Pak Telecom Mobile Ltd after PTCL took control of Telenor Pakistan. Feature Pakistan reported that PTCL Group posted a Rs4.7 billion profit as the Ufone-Telenor merger drove revenue past Rs304 billion, which explains part of Ufone’s scale in the September table. The merger, in other words, changed the shape of the race, not just the pace of it.
What the subscriber race means for users
For subscribers, a close race at the top usually means harder competition for their business. Jazz and Ufone now sit within a whisker of each other, so both have reason to fight for the next customer with better packages, wider coverage and faster service.
Parliament was told in October that mobile subscriptions had reached about 210 million, with mobile broadband subscriptions at 161.7 million. Those figures, from a separate briefing, point in the same direction as the September data.
However, readers should keep one distinction in mind. Subscription figures count SIM connections, not people, since one person can hold several SIM cards. A teledensity above 83 per cent means there are more than 83 connections per 100 residents, not that 83 per cent of the population has mobile service. The 211.47 million figure is therefore a measure of the market’s size, not a head count of users.
Meanwhile, Jazz continues to build beyond basic connectivity. Feature Pakistan reported on Jazz launching its ROX AI Hub with Urdu voice support and on QSPL and JazzSure signing an embedded insurance deal. Both leading operators now compete on digital services as well as network size.
Frequently asked questions
How many cellular subscribers does Pakistan have?
Pakistan’s cellular subscriber base reached 211.47 million in September 2026, according to data cited by Arif Habib Limited. That was up from 200.56 million in December 2025, a rise of 10.91 million in nine months.
How close is Ufone to Jazz?
Ufone had 76.29 million subscribers in September, against 76.44 million for Jazz. The gap of 150,000 was down from 210,000 in August, after Ufone added more subscribers than any other operator this year.
What are the market shares of Jazz, Ufone, Zong and SCO?
Jazz held 36.15 per cent of the market, Ufone held 36.08 per cent, Zong held 26.78 per cent and SCO held about one per cent in September 2026.
Do 211 million subscribers mean 211 million people use mobiles?
No. The figure counts SIM connections, not people, since one person can hold several SIM cards. Parliament was told teledensity stood above 83 per cent, which means more than 83 connections per 100 residents, while mobile broadband subscriptions stood at 161.7 million.
