Telenor Pakistan’s market share continued its downward slide as the operator prepares for its merger with PTCL Group. PTA data showed that Telenor’s share dropped from 22.83 percent in September 2024 to 21.75 percent by August 2025, indicating a gradual decline in its subscriber base. The reduction of more than one percentage point over eleven months reflects ongoing shifts within the telecom sector as competition intensifies among major players. Market consolidation, evolving usage trends, and changing consumer preferences continue to influence the dynamics across Pakistan’s mobile networks.
Jazz remained the market leader with a 37.1 percent share as of August 2025, followed by Zong at 26.45 percent, Telenor at 21.75 percent, and Ufone at 13.71 percent. The Special Communications Organization retained a marginal one percent share. These figures highlight how the competitive field remains dominated by Jazz and Zong, both of which continue to consolidate their user bases. PTA also reported a decline in the country’s total cellular subscriber count, which fell for the third straight month. Numbers dropped from 197.804 million in June 2025 to 196.194 million by the end of September, signaling a softening in overall mobile subscription growth.
Despite the drop in total cellular users, broadband connectivity continued to grow steadily. PTA recorded an increase in 3G and 4G subscribers from 147.713 million in August to 148.059 million in September, representing a net addition of around 0.35 million users. The Next Generation Mobile Services penetration rate rose slightly from 59.56 percent to 59.6 percent, reflecting ongoing digital adoption even as mobile subscriptions experienced a slowdown. Operator wise breakdown showed varied movements in user numbers. Jazz, while maintaining its top position, saw a small decline in its 4G subscribers, decreasing from 55.094 million to 55.077 million between August and September. Zong strengthened its presence by adding close to 90,000 new 4G customers, raising its total to 41.152 million during the same period.
Telenor recorded a modest increase in its 4G users, rising from 26.964 million to 27.064 million. This gain, however, was overshadowed by the continued decline in its 3G subscriber base, which fell from 1.045 million to 1.011 million. Ufone also showed a similar trend, with its 3G numbers dropping from 1.618 million to 1.448 million, while its 4G base grew to 18.742 million. The pattern reflects a nationwide transition as subscribers continue to shift away from legacy 3G connections toward improved broadband services. The changes also illustrate how operators are adjusting their network priorities to accommodate rising demand for high speed connectivity.
Industry analysts observe that Telenor’s declining market share adds to the significance of its upcoming merger with PTCL Group. The combined entity is anticipated to improve its position in a market where investment capacity, network expansion, and service modernization are increasingly important. As Pakistan’s telecom sector undergoes structural changes, operators continue to adapt their strategies to retain users and expand coverage. PTA’s latest data shows how subscriber movement, technology preferences, and market competition collectively shape the evolving landscape, offering insight into the shifts taking place as operators navigate the transition toward next generation services.
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