The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has proposed the installation of express feeders to address network issues in Karachi caused by prolonged power outages. In a response to the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, PTA explained that while telecom services generally meet regulatory thresholds for voice and data, the city’s network availability is heavily impacted by load-shedding.
A survey conducted by PTA revealed that network downtime in key districts, including Central, East, South, West, and Malir, was primarily caused by extended power failures. Despite telecom infrastructure being equipped with backup power systems, the systems’ 2 to 4-hour battery backup was insufficient to maintain service during long outages. PTA recommended the government arrange express feeders for telecom towers to provide uninterrupted power, thereby improving network uptime and overall service quality.
The PTA also informed the committee about a survey currently underway along the Karachi-Hyderabad Expressway to evaluate telecom performance in the region. In addition, the authority analyzed system parameters for Q4 2024, revealing that while network downtime was within acceptable limits for Zong and Ufone, Jazz experienced issues in the Malir region. Despite these challenges, call completion rates and 4G data speeds remained above the required thresholds.
Independent Quality of Service (QoS) surveys conducted in 2024 confirmed that overall voice and data services were satisfactory across mobile operators. Telenor recorded the highest network availability at 99.40%, while Ufone had the lowest at 97.70%. In terms of 4G data throughput, Telenor led with an average speed of 11.59 Mbps, followed by Jazz, Zong, and Ufone.
PTA assured the Standing Committee that improvements to Karachi’s telecom infrastructure would continue and that resolving power supply issues remains essential for ensuring long-term network stability.
