Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has announced a significant improvement in the country’s mobile internet speed, recording a 28 percent increase over the past year. The PTA refuted reports of internet slowdowns and stated that the mobile internet speed has risen from 15.65 Megabits per second (Mbps) to 20.02 Mbps.
This improvement is accompanied by a 24.2 percent increase in mobile internet usage. The number of broadband subscribers reached 142.3 million, while telecom subscribers totaled 196 million as of September 2024. The telecom sector generated substantial revenue, recording Rs955 billion in the last fiscal year, with 29.6 million mobile devices manufactured locally during the same period.
Despite these positive developments, a report by the World Population Review placed Pakistan 198th globally in internet speed rankings, lower than countries like Palestine, Bhutan, Ghana, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Libya. The report noted that the average mobile internet download speed in Pakistan stands at 19.59 Mbps, while broadband internet averages 15.52 Mbps.
Globally, the UAE leads in both mobile and broadband internet speeds, followed by Singapore in mobile and Qatar in broadband speed. Hong Kong and Chile rank third and fourth in mobile internet speed, respectively. The report anticipates further improvements in internet speed with advancements in technology.
