PTA Network Quality Surveys Reach Lahore, Karachi
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority will extend its mobile network quality inspections to Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar and other major cities, after completing a recent assessment in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The PTA network quality surveys will check coverage, call quality, internet connectivity and overall service performance in the coming days.
The inspections are aimed at identifying weaknesses and improving mobile services for consumers. The authority plans to conduct similar field surveys in Lahore and Karachi first, then move on to other major cities.
The upcoming assessments will involve representatives from the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications and mobile network operators. They will follow the approach used in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where senior PTA officials personally examined network performance at various locations.
What the Islamabad and Rawalpindi inspection found
The PTA launched a special field inspection campaign in the twin cities on Thursday, after numerous complaints from consumers about mobile and internet services. PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman personally led the exercise, along with members of the authority.
Three special teams covered different areas. The first team inspected mobile services at Islamabad International Airport, Srinagar Highway and adjoining areas. The second team assessed network performance along the Islamabad Expressway from the city to Rawat T-Chowk. The third team covered Murree Road, Rawal Road and areas around the Old Airport in Rawalpindi.
Representatives of mobile operators, the media and even some of the complainants accompanied the PTA teams during the exercise. The inspection focused on voice quality, call connection success rates, call continuity and mobile data speeds. Officials also assessed the overall performance of mobile networks and the quality of internet services available to subscribers.
According to the initial assessment, mobile voice and data services were generally satisfactory in most of the areas inspected. The PTA did, however, identify shortcomings in call quality and internet services in certain areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The chairman issued instructions to representatives of mobile operators on the spot to address the issues and improve service delivery.
The operators told the media and the PTA that there were regular distortions in telephony and data service at different towers. They said the sector was upgrading its networks from 3G to 4G, and in several places from 4G to 5G, by installing new equipment. The transitional period, they said, leads to a deterioration in the quality of service for some time.
A report is being prepared
The PTA is preparing a detailed report on its recent inspections in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The report will cover network performance, service quality, connectivity issues and areas requiring improvement, before being submitted to the authority for consideration and further action.
The report will shape what happens next. If it finds specific gaps, the PTA can direct operators to fix them. If it finds wider problems, it can set new requirements for the networks. Either way, the Lahore and Karachi surveys will add to the picture, since they cover the two largest mobile markets in the country.
The regulator said field monitoring was already under way across the country. Teams from its regional offices, accompanied by local administration representatives, are regularly visiting different cities and areas to identify connectivity problems and assess the quality of mobile services.
The PTA network quality surveys in context
The new surveys are part of a wider push by the PTA. In an earlier exercise, the authority inspected 115 mobile network sites across eight cities between September 30 and October 7. The teams examined 39 sites in Lahore, 17 in Karachi, 16 in Sukkur, 14 each in Multan and Rawalpindi, eight in Quetta, four in Abbottabad and three in Gilgit.
In that exercise, the field teams assessed network performance, voice and data services quality, coverage, and the availability of backup power. The PTA said improvements in mobile service quality had been observed in several of the areas covered.
Following the auction of 5G spectrum, the regulator will also focus on the rollout of fifth generation mobile services in major cities, alongside improvements to existing 4G networks. The PTA aims to ensure wider network coverage, more reliable connectivity and better service quality as mobile operators expand their infrastructure and introduce advanced telecommunications services.
The PTA has been active on other fronts as well. It has warned the public about a fake TikTok ban notification circulating online, and it has required Bigo Live and Likee to register in Pakistan. Telecom fines and recovery stay orders have also been in the news, and the PTCL-Etisalat arbitration over $800 million remains a major telecom dispute. Pakistan is also aiming to develop one million AI professionals by 2030, which will raise demand for the networks the PTA is now inspecting.
Which cities are next for PTA network surveys?
Lahore and Karachi are next, with surveys planned in the coming days. Peshawar and other major cities will follow, after the authority completes its assessment of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
What will the surveys check?
The teams will assess network coverage, call quality, internet connectivity and overall service performance. They will look for weaknesses in each city and check whether operators are meeting the standards the PTA sets.
What did the Islamabad and Rawalpindi inspection find?
Services were generally satisfactory in most areas, but the PTA found shortcomings in call quality and internet services in certain areas. Three teams covered the airport, Srinagar Highway, the Expressway to Rawat, Murree Road and the Old Airport area.
How does this fit with 5G?
The PTA will focus on the rollout of 5G in major cities after the spectrum auction, alongside improvements to existing 4G networks. Operators say the shift from 3G to 4G and from 4G to 5G is causing temporary distortions at some towers.
