Telecom companies in Pakistan have significantly expanded their infrastructure over the past five years, adding more than 10,000 new sites, according to a PTA document obtained by ProPakistani.
The document reveals that from 2019 to 2023, a total of 10,626 new sites were established by Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) across the country.
Year-on-year data shows varying levels of site additions. In 2019, telecom companies added 2,861 new sites, marking the highest annual growth during this period. In 2020, the number of new sites decreased to 1,761, while 2021 saw an increase to 2,219 sites. The growth continued in 2022 with the addition of 2,451 sites, before declining again in 2023 with 1,334 new sites.
Among the telecom operators, Jazz led the expansion by adding 3,092 new sites during the five-year period. Zong followed with 2,854 new sites, while Ufone contributed 2,510 new sites. Telenor added 1,900 sites, and SCO added 270 sites.
PTA highlighted that the global phase-out of 3G networks has played a crucial role in freeing up the spectrum for more efficient 4G and 5G technologies, leading to improved data services.
Additionally, PTA’s efforts to enhance voice call quality through Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and Voice over WiFi (WoWiFi) have contributed to better communication experiences. The additional spectrum acquired through auctions has enabled telecom operators to boost network capacity and quality of service, supporting the growing demand for high-speed mobile data.
According to the document, independent assessments such as the Ookla Speed Test have reported significant improvements in internet performance metrics, including data rates and latency in Pakistan. The data shows that national cellular broadband speeds have improved markedly in recent years, reflecting the substantial investments made by telecom operators to upgrade their networks.