Pakistan’s telecom industry has witnessed a consistent dip in mobile subscribers for the third consecutive month, as the total number of cellular users fell from 196.860 million in August 2025 to 196.194 million by the end of September 2025, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
The decline follows a trend that began after June 2025, when the total mobile user base stood at 197.804 million. This ongoing reduction suggests market saturation and potential shifts in consumer behavior within the telecom sector.
4G Users Continue to Rise Amid Overall Decline
Despite the overall drop in total subscribers, 3G and 4G users showed steady growth, increasing from 147.713 million in August to 148.059 million in September 2025—a gain of approximately 0.346 million users.
The Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) penetration rate also rose slightly from 59.56% to 59.6%, highlighting the growing reliance on high-speed mobile broadband across the country.
This upward trend reflects the nation’s gradual transition from legacy 3G networks to faster 4G technologies, driven by increasing demand for data-intensive applications, online learning, and mobile entertainment.
Operator-Wise Breakdown
According to PTA’s latest report:
- Jazz saw a slight dip in its 4G user base, decreasing from 55.094 million to 55.077 million,+ while its 3G services remained inactive.
- Zong recorded growth in 4G customers, increasing from 41.062 million to 41.152 million, though it experienced a small drop in 3G users.
- Telenor Pakistan followed a similar trend — 3G users declined from 1.045 million to 1.011 million, while 4G subscribers grew from 26.964 million to 27.064 million.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s mobile teledensity — the number of mobile connections per 100 individuals — remained relatively stable at 80.04%, indicating a plateau in new user acquisition.
Broadband Expansion and Connectivity Challenges
While the steady rise in broadband users is encouraging, the industry continues to face challenges such as service disruptions, infrastructure limitations, and spectrum constraints. The recent submarine cable issue also temporarily affected Pakistan’s internet speeds, underlining the need for more robust and diversified connectivity solutions.
The shift from 3G to 4G, and eventually to 5G technology, represents the next step in enhancing Pakistan’s digital infrastructure, but achieving this goal will require strategic policy support and continued investment from telecom operators.
The Road Ahead
Pakistan’s telecom landscape is undergoing transformation — although the total mobile user count is declining, the rise in 4G and broadband adoption signifies a maturing market with users demanding better speed, reliability, and connectivity.
The trend suggests that future growth will not depend solely on the number of connections but on the quality of digital services offered to consumers.
 
			








