PTA Highlights Poor Performance of Telecom Companies
Staff Report :
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has highlighted the poor performance of Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) in mobile network coverage, mobile broadband, voice, and SMS services. Based on the compliance level of each KPI in surveyed cities against thresholds defined in QoS Regulations, CMOs have been ranked from first to fourth position in mobile network coverage, mobile broadband, voice, and SMS services.
According to the survey regarding coverage, Ufone secured the first position, Zong the second, Jazz the third, and Telenor the fourth position.
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The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) conducted an independent Quality of Service (QoS) survey in 17 cities of Pakistan during the fourth quarter of 2024. During this survey, the performance of Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) was assessed in accordance with the Cellular Mobile Network QoS Regulations 2021. The survey included approximately 46,000 voice calls and SMS tests, while 0.33 million samples were analyzed to measure the broadband performance of CMOs.
Key performance indicators (KPIs) require all CMOs to meet or exceed the benchmarks set by the Cellular Mobile Network Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations 2021. To ensure accurate benchmarking, the PTA collects and analyzes statistically significant samples, with a minimum of 200 calls and data sessions evaluated to assess critical performance parameters.
The Quality of Service Survey was conducted in 17 cities across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sindh, and Balochistan during October and December 2024. Survey routes were selected to cover the maximum population areas in the respective cities. The survey assessed the quality of services in the areas of voice, mobile broadband (throughput, latency, and web browsing), and Short Messaging Service (SMS).
During the survey, while conducting data tests in technology auto-detect mode, 4G/LTE signal strength samples were recorded along survey routes. Zong emerged as the most consistent performer in compliance, leading in most cities with high 4G signal confidence levels. Ufone followed closely, showing strong compliance across several locations, often taking the second position.
Jazz performed well but occasionally ranked below Zong and Ufone. Telenor consistently lagged behind, with the lowest compliance levels in most cities. Overall, Zong led the rankings in terms of compliance, followed by Ufone, Jazz, and Telenor.
To measure the performance of mobile broadband services, data download and upload tests were conducted. During the tests, a 10GB file was downloaded and uploaded over a three-minute duration. Jazz ranked first in download speed, followed by Zong, Ufone, and Telenor. For upload speed, Ufone ranked first, followed by Jazz, Zong, and Telenor. Third-party application upload and download throughputs were tested using a network testing application, and Zong took first place, followed by Jazz, Ufone, and Telenor.
Web page loading time, an important Quality of Experience (QoE) metric, although not a traditional service KPI, provides valuable insights into CMOs’ performance in delivering seamless web browsing experiences. Jazz ranked first in this category, Zong second, while Ufone and Telenor shared the third position.
Five QoS KPIs (Network Accessibility, Call Setup Success Rate, Call Setup Time, Call Completion Rate, and Mean Opinion Score) were measured during voice service testing in the surveyed cities. In mobile network coverage, signal strength for 4G/LTE and 3G networks (in fallback mode) was measured in technology auto-detect mode. Ufone ranked first, followed by Zong, Jazz, and Telenor.
For download throughput, Zong and Jazz shared the top position, followed by Ufone and Telenor. For upload throughput, Zong ranked first, followed by Jazz, Ufone, and Telenor.
In voice calls, Zong and Jazz shared the first position, Ufone came second, and Telenor third. For SMS services, Zong ranked first, Ufone second, Telenor third, and Jazz fourth.
