Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has completed its independent Quality of Service (QoS) Survey for the third quarter of 2025 to assess the performance and service quality of Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) across the country. Conducted between July and September, the survey covered 17 cities and two major road routes nationwide, providing a comprehensive evaluation of Pakistan’s mobile network experience in both urban and intercity environments.
Survey routes were selected to include main roads, service lanes, and major residential and commercial areas to ensure realistic testing conditions. Using an advanced automated QoS Monitoring and Benchmarking Tool, mobile handsets were configured in technology auto-detect mode to test voice calls, SMS delivery, and mobile broadband data services. The purpose of the survey was to evaluate operator performance against the Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) license conditions and the Cellular Mobile Network QoS Regulations, 2021, ensuring compliance with the standards defined for consistent user experience.
According to PTA, the QoS assessment measured multiple Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that reflect network reliability and user satisfaction. CMOs were ranked from first to fourth place based on their results in key categories, including Mobile Network Coverage, Voice Services, and Mobile Broadband Speed. Most operators met the regulatory benchmarks for data upload and download speeds, demonstrating improved broadband performance compared to earlier assessments. However, certain voice-related KPIs fell short of the required thresholds in specific regions, indicating that service quality still varies across different geographical zones.
The survey results also highlighted the superior performance of operators that have deployed advanced technologies such as Long-Term Evolution (LTE) Carrier Aggregation and Voice over LTE (VoLTE). These operators showed enhanced network quality, particularly in terms of call clarity, data throughput, and overall service stability. PTA has directed all CMOs to implement corrective actions where performance gaps were identified to ensure uniform service delivery and improved customer experience nationwide.
Detailed findings from the survey are available on the PTA website here, offering insight into each operator’s standing in key performance metrics and their compliance levels. PTA continues to emphasize transparency in service evaluation and accountability in Pakistan’s telecommunications sector, reinforcing its commitment to enhancing connectivity quality for millions of mobile users.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.