The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reported a significant improvement in mobile internet speed across the country, claiming a 28 percent increase in 2024.

The authority’s annual report, handed over to Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani by PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeez-ur-Rehman, highlights the positive growth in the telecom sector.

According to the PTA, the average mobile internet speed in Pakistan rose from 15.65 Mbps to 20.02 Mbps this year.

In addition to the speed increase, the report notes a rise in mobile data usage by 24.2 percent and broadband access, which grew from 53.6 percent to 58.4 percent.

The telecom sector also saw a boost in revenue, earning Rs 955 billion during the 2023-24 financial year, with 29.6 million mobile devices manufactured locally. The number of telecom subscribers rose from 127.6 million to 142.3 million by September 2024.

Furthermore, mobile phone services reached 91 percent of the population, and 4G services expanded to 81 percent of the country.

However, the PTA’s claims of increased internet speed and service improvements have been met with disbelief as independent institutions monitoring internet services in Pakistan have reported that internet speeds remained extremely slow throughout the year, with several disruptions in mobile and internet services.

The situation worsened following the general elections in February, as internet services were either slowed down or shut down entirely on multiple occasions.

While PTA’s report suggests a positive trend in telecom services, these claims contrast with the experiences of many users across the country, who have faced connectivity issues throughout the year.