The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority has directed mobile network operators to improve coverage across Rawalpindi and Islamabad by October, ordering them to eliminate existing coverage gaps and improve overall service quality within the two cities. The directive gives operators a firm deadline to address longstanding connectivity complaints that have persisted across various parts of the twin cities.
The authority has instructed operators to ensure better mobile network coverage across all sectors and surrounding areas of Islamabad, as well as all parts of Rawalpindi, extending the scope of the directive beyond just the more densely populated commercial and residential zones. PTA has also specifically ordered operators to ensure coverage along major roads, including the Kashmir Highway and Islamabad Expressway, along with other key routes connecting the two cities, addressing a common complaint among commuters who have experienced dropped calls and weak signal strength while traveling along these frequently used corridors.
To meet these requirements, PTA has directed mobile operators to install new mobile sites where necessary to address identified coverage gaps, giving operators a concrete technical pathway toward compliance rather than a vague instruction to simply improve service. Operators have also been instructed to deploy new sites alongside the ongoing rollout of new 5G spectrum bands, tying this coverage improvement directive directly to the broader 5G expansion efforts currently underway across the country. This approach suggests PTA is looking to have operators address both existing 4G and legacy network gaps while simultaneously building out newer 5G infrastructure in the same locations, rather than treating the two efforts as entirely separate initiatives.
PTA said connectivity in Rawalpindi and Islamabad must be improved and gave mobile companies clear direction to address coverage problems within the October deadline, with the authority confirming it will continue to actively monitor mobile network coverage in both cities going forward. PTA teams are scheduled to visit different areas of Rawalpindi and Islamabad next week specifically to assess mobile network performance and identify any remaining coverage issues on the ground, giving the regulator direct, firsthand verification of network conditions ahead of the enforcement deadline. The authority has also warned that operators failing to improve service quality within the given timeframe could face penalties, adding a concrete enforcement mechanism to the directive and signaling that PTA intends to treat network coverage in Pakistan’s capital region as a priority area for regulatory oversight in the weeks ahead.
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