While Pakistan remains optimistic about the eventual rollout of 5G technology, mobile users across the country continue to grapple with unreliable 4G and even 3G services. Despite growing public frustration, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has not taken any substantial action against telecom companies providing poor service, relying instead on general statements.
In an interview with Samaa TV, the PTA acknowledged the ongoing decline in mobile phone and internet services nationwide. Users from urban centers like Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, as well as from highways and remote areas, have reported frequent signal drops, slow mobile data speeds, and disrupted connectivity.
One frustrated user in Islamabad shared, “The nation waiting for 5G is practically deprived of even 3G and 4G.”
Despite these complaints, PTA has yet to implement any effective measures to penalize telecom companies in 2025. The authority emphasized that improving service quality is an ongoing process and claimed that efforts are being made to enhance cellular services. PTA also stated that regular surveys and follow-up actions are carried out to monitor telecom performance. Over recent years, fines totaling Rs68.9 million have been imposed on mobile operators, though only Rs13.6 million has been recovered.
Users continue to voice complaints about signal dropouts, slow mobile data speeds, and disrupted connectivity, especially on motorways, where uninterrupted mobile coverage is critical. The current state of mobile services has become a daily inconvenience for many.
