Pakistan Gets 5 Million 3G Users

Mobile phone companies in Pakistan have continued to show growth for their 3G subscriptions, which surged to 4.962 million at the end of November 2014. Meaning that 5 million benchmark would have been achieved by the sector as of today.

It is said to be an impressive number with-in first six months of the launch of 3G services in the country.

With Zong topping the chart, 3G users increased for all four operators of cellular phone industry.

According to details made available by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) late on Monday, a total of 1.20 million users were added to 3G network in November 2014, whereas the numbers for 4G users stood below 1,500 subscriptions because of limited coverage being offered by Zong, the only 4G till previous month.

Zong managed to grab its top position in 3G market with subscribers’ number reaching 1.688 million at the end of November 2014.

The outstanding growth of Zong 3G subscribers depicted its aggressive sales strategy though the launch of its services were quite delayed compared with different market players.

Mobilink having biggest subscriber base in 2.5G users is standing at second position with 1.443 million users.

Telenor had 1.182 million 3G users at the end of reported period.

Ufone stood last with its 646,949 3G customers.

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Also Read: Telcos Denounce PTA’s 3G Figures

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Mobilink claims to provide 3G services in 24 cities whereas Telenor claims have stretched its 3G footprint in in 55 cities so far.

The growth of subscribers reflects the penetration of operators in different cities however the experience and utility of services could not be determined by these numbers.

See more in below graphs:

3G_Users_01

3G_Users

Embarrassing 4G Stats

Zong that launched 4G service in the end of September this year witnessed slower addition in 4G users, which stood at just 1,452 at the end of November 2014.

It is obvious that 4G is the latest technology in the country but the adaptation is limited on the network of Zong.

Warid Telecom launched its 4G LTE service a few days back and it sets to compete with Zong in 4G market with slightly lesser competition as compared with 3G market.

With extremely low number for 4G subscribers on Zong, Warid has an opportunity to speed up its network up-gradation to become Number One operator in 4G sector in Pakistan.

On the other hand, Zong is also working on 4G network deployment to grab the maximum subscribers in the specific high-end market.

The race has begun.


  • What is there criteria for calculating?

    A consumer who has connected atleast once to 3G network or is a regular user of 3G? What’s the authenticity of these figures??

      • So every user who has 3G enabled Set he/She Is user of that particular company .. because normally 3G is enabled on each sim by default and 3G handset will switch 3G automatically ..
        “woh bad main banda kahta hai Oo Band kar band kar 3G Maira balance ur gya”
        But unfortunately he is 3G user as per PTA and telecom industry – Sadqe

  • I am so disappointed at Ufone, every single person I know uses Ufone including me, with all the exciting packages, a Ufone user would never port out!
    But its such a disappointment that Ufone launched its 3G long after every other network had already implemented 3G!
    Ufone has the worst 3G coverage ever!
    I live in hyderabad and every network is providing its 3G services since the past 4 months already and I still have to live with the stupid E sign on the status bar!

    • Well i am satisfied with Ufone services. Ufone is expanding its 3G services, I hope it will be available in Hyderabad soon.

      • YES UFONE IS FOR BELOW THE COVERAGE AND PACKAGES BUT AS ALWAYS UFONE GAIN MOMENTUM BY SLOW MOVE AND PROVIDE US THE BEST PACKAGE W8 DEAR. YAAD HE 256KBPS BASE PACKAGE THA AB WO 512KBPS HO CHUKA HE AUR DATA RATES B 1.5GB @250/MONTH WITH 5000SMS AND MMS NO ONE IS GIVING THESE. W8 AND SEE THE 2015 IS 3G RACE YEAR SO I WILL SUGGEST U GUYS BE PATIENCE WILL BE THERE WITH BEST APCKAGE FOR 3G DATA HUNGRY USERS LIKE. WHERE U CAN SEE FACEBOOK AND WHATSAPP IS TOTALLY FREE BY UFONE NO ONE IS GIVING IT FREE AS UFONE. SO W8 AND SEE. WILL HIT THE FLOOR IN 2015

    • GHATTYA TAREEN 3G IS MOBILINK IN PUJAB BUT FOR BETTER IN SINDH. BUT HOPE ARE WILL PLAY GOOD

  • Well that abysmal 4G uptake is due to the auction timing. The 3G should have been auctioned at least 3 years prior to the 4G auction but instead our inept government auctioned them belatedly, and together for a few $$. Not many are interested in a costlier and less readily available alternative. But I guess, the numbers will change once Warid gets going because its subscribers base has mostly been dormant in the 3G/4G game, up till now.

  • I must have been counted as a 3G user too, though I just used it for one minute only (literally) since it has been launched.

  • Whats wrong with UFONE? So less 3G users. And amazing to see the figures of Zong. CHINA wale cha gaye hain

    • i am ufone users since 10 years, the first time I feel that I must have to port out from ufone because of their stupid 3g service

      • DUDE W8 FOR DATA PACKAGES BY UFONE. BY THE WAY 5GB 5000 SMS AND 5000 MIN @ RS 60/5DAYS IS NOT A BAD DEAL ON THE WHOLE YOU GET MONTHLY WE GET 30GB, 30000MIN AND 30000SMS FOR JUST RS 360+TAX IS BEST DEAL BY UFONE

                • Advocate of ufone. Look mobilink. Telenor offering unlimited daily offers..telenor average speed is 3-5 mbps. Daily 5gb/8 rupee. Unlimited/50 rupee. Mobilink 30gb package.. and u happy with crappy by ufone. Lol

                  • he he yes i love my Pakistan and Ufone too. baaki me kisi ko kam ni kehta everyone has his own choice no one can beat Ufone in Packages even PTCL is free there too. Hai koi operator PTCL wala to btao my dear. No One Koi unlimited calls ni deta (specially ufone)

                    • Ptcl…. throwing my evo due to 3G of telenor. People porting out from ufone due to extra charging and endless marketing sms. This is about business and serviced. Pakistani company is now owned by etisalat ( uae). Lol

                    • not 100% only 49% and untill full payment they are not owning. and lking free minutes for PTCL and vfone. lol

                    • 26% controlling shares. And free minuts offers are offered by many operators…i dont know why you can’t accept realities…

                    • Thx to mention
                      But ptcl is also offering free minuts for home networks ( land line. Vfone and ufone) and the same is for others. Many offers are available for home network free minuts. How many of people do use ptcl… not me.. but figures describe the truth…celluler users vs landline users…

        • Its speed its little bit better than there edge, I am using it from past 1 month this package is great but Ufone 3g speed and coverage is pathetic.

  • Telenor 3G is the best so far .. I have ported out my number from Warid to telenor ! Having a great experience of a good network, best packages, widest 3G coverage ! And i tried on every network .. My final recommendation is Telenor !!

  • This is a meaningless statistic. What would be of interest is to know the number of active subscribers, average bandwidth/data usage, and average 3/4G ARPU. Another interesting fact would be the kind of Apps being used so it may be ascertained whether the service is being used for productivity or entertainment (killing time or boredom).

    Unfortunately, this statistic has become much like the exaggerated number of SIMs sold as reported by the operators —- never mind how many are being actively used!

  • Considering that you need an iPhone 5S or later, or an Android phone worth 40k or above (brand new) for 4G, chances are that growth will remain stagnant.

        • iPhone 5 – A1429 comes in TWO variants, CDMA and GSM, BOTH OF WHICH SUPPORT 4G LTE, with Band 3 – 1800MHz. Have used the GSM Variant of iPhone 5 – A1429, hence can tell from my experience, therefore your statement is incorrect.

            • I have owned the GSM version for over an year, used it in the UK and Pakistan on 4G LTE, and sold it just recently as got an iPhone 6.

              P.S. LMFAO, I just checked the link YOU mentioned here.
              You seem a bit blind, pal :P

              The link you yourself gave states –

              iPhone 5
              Model A1429
              (GSM model)

              Band 1 (2100 MHz)
              Band 3 (1800 MHz) <<====
              Band 5 (850 MHz)

              Read the page again, the link states that the GSM variant DOES support Band 3 i.e 1800MHz, so what are you on about that the GSM version doesn't support Band 3? Are you high or something? At first when I saw the link I couldn't believe, because I MYSELF HAVE USED the GSM Variant on 4G LTE, in UK, Pakistan and partially in UAE & Australia. All on Band 3 – 1800MHz.

                • Please read my first COMMENT. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT Model A1428 – which is a US model. Even the best phones like HTC/Samsung/LG have different models for different countries.

                  I AM TALKING ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL MODEL, A1429 AS I WROTE IN MY FIRST COMMENT. Plesae get away from A1428 and look for model A1429, and PLEASE READ MY FIRST COMMENT AGAIN AND TRY TO UNDERSTAND IT BEFORE COMMETING AGAIN.

                  Scroll down from Model A1429 CDMA, you WILL find A1429 GSM, and that will make you look like a fool as you have been arguing without reading my comment, or checking Apple’s website. I told you at first, I’ve even used this mobile, which doesn’t seems to convince you.

                • Scroll down a bit. And PLEASE READ MY FIRST COMMENT AGAIN. iPhone Model A1429 COMES IN 2 VARIANTS, CDMA AND GSM! Please scroll down below CDMA.

              • Dude look clearly. The band 3 is written in front of the CDMA model. It’s clearly NOT written in front of the GSM model.

  • It is just start and things are moving in right direction .The figure will cross 10 million in just 4 months.However consumers want quality service.The operators who will maintain quality will succeed in the long run.

  • Zong have expansive 3G Packages, Then how zong is on top of the list?
    Telenor have a big 3G area & also have good 3G Packages . I don’t agree with these chart

    • You forgot to mention the sturggling speeds on 5MHZ band……max speed…..4 mbps……in most areas, you get less than 3 mbps day and night….Mobilink on the other hand, offers 5 to 10 mbps at all times with better 3g packages…Zong is losing it.


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