Islamabad, October 22, 2023 – Pakistan mobile phone subscriber count has experienced a decline, with the total number of subscribers standing at 187.74 million by the end of September 2023.
This data is based on information released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
In the previous month of August 2023, the total number of mobile subscribers in Pakistan was 190.44 million. The cellular teledensity, which measures the number of mobile subscriptions per 100 people, saw a decrease from 79.87 percent at the end of August 2023 to 79.44 percent at the end of September. The total teledensity also decreased, dropping from 80.95 percent by the end of August to 80.52 percent by the end of September.
Despite the overall decline in mobile subscribers, the number of 3G and 4G users in Pakistan increased slightly. It grew from 126.610 million by the end of August 2023 to 126.930 million by the end of September. The Monthly Next Generation Mobile Service (NGMS) penetration also saw a slight increase, rising from 53.1 percent by the end of August to 53.14 percent by the end of September.
Among the major mobile network operators in Pakistan, Jazz experienced a decrease in 3G users, going from 4.148 million by the end of August to 3.893 million by the end of September. However, Jazz’s 4G user count increased from 43.010 million to 43.162 million during the same period.
For Zong, the number of 3G subscribers decreased from 2.425 million by the end of August to 2.378 million by the end of September, while the number of 4G users increased from 33.269 million to 33.494 million.
Telenor reported a decrease in 3G subscribers from 2.720 million to 2.656 million between August and September, but its 4G user count increased from 23.260 million to 23.320 million during the same period.
Ufone’s 3G users decreased from 2.676 million by the end of August to 2.481 million by the end of September. However, the number of Ufone’s 4G users increased from 13.616 million to 14.044 million.
The PTA received a total of 13,596 complaints from telecom consumers against various telecom operators and cellular operators in September 2023, with an impressive resolution rate of 99 percent. The majority of complaints were related to cellular mobile operators (CMOs). Jazz, Telenor, Zong, and Ufone received and resolved the highest number of complaints, reflecting the commitment to customer satisfaction and dispute resolution.
This data provides insights into the dynamic telecommunications sector in Pakistan and the evolving preferences of mobile subscribers in terms of network technology. It also highlights the regulatory role of the PTA in addressing consumer concerns and promoting efficient service delivery in the telecom industry.
