While Pakistan remains hopeful for the rollout of 5G technology, mobile users across the country are still struggling with unreliable 4G and even 3G services.

Despite growing public frustration, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has not taken any practical action this year against telecom companies providing poor service and instead relied on mere statements.

In a conversation with Samaa TV, PTA acknowledged the ongoing deterioration of mobile phone and internet services nationwide. From urban hubs like Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi to highways and remote towns, users have reported frequent signal drops, extremely slow mobile data, and disrupted connectivity.

“The nation waiting for 5G is practically deprived of even 3G and 4G,” one frustrated user in Islamabad told Samaa TV.

PTA takes no concrete steps

Moreover, no practical measures have been taken so far in 2025 to penalise telecom companies over poor service delivery. At this, the authority emphasized that “improving the quality of service is a continuous process”, and claimed that efforts are being made to enhance cellular services.

According to PTA, regular surveys and follow-up actions are conducted to monitor telecom performance. The authority added that over the past few years, it had imposed fines totalling Rs68.9 million on mobile operators. However, only Rs13.6 million has been recovered so far.

Complaints pile up

From signal dropouts to slow mobile data speeds, users say the current state of mobile service has become a daily inconvenience. Even on Pakistan's motorways, where uninterrupted mobile coverage is essential, travelers report frequent disruptions.