Number of subscribers and 3G/4G users, teledensity, NGMS penetration slump: PTA

ISLAMABAD: The number of cellular subscribers, 3G/4G users, teledensity as well as Next Generation Mobile Service (NGMS) penetration declined while the number of users’ complaints increased in November 2023 compared to October 2023, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) data revealed.

The number of cellular subscribers decreased from 189.77 million by end October to 189.26 million by end November.

The number of 3G and 4G users in Pakistan decreased by from 126.92 million by end October to 126.24 million by end November.

Number of cellular subscribers, teledensity in April: PTA

The cellular teledensity has declined from 79.32 per cent by end October to 78.98 per cent by end November. Total teledensity decreased from 80.4 per cent by end October to 80.06 per cent by end November.

NGMS penetration decreased from 53.05 per cent by end October to 52.68 per cent by end November.

Jazz’s total count for 3G users declined from 3.731 million by end October to 3.569 million by end November. Jazz 4G users decreased from 43.172 million by end October to 42.754 million by end November.

Zong 3G subscribers decreased from 2.320 million by end October to 2.265 million by end November while the number of 4G users increased from 33.797 million by end October to 33.869 million by end November.

Telenor 3G subscribers decreased from2.567 million by end October to 2.477 million by end November while the number of 4G users of Telenor decreased from 23.240 million by end October to 23.196 million by end November.

Ufone 3G users stood at 2.230 million by end November compared to 2.352 million by end October. The number of 4G users of Ufone increased from 14.228 million by end October to 14.349 million by end November.

The PTA received 14,471 complaints from telecom consumers against different telecom operators and cellular operators in November 2023, out of which, 14,310 (98.9 per cent) were resolved.

Official data revealed that the complaints were received against various telecom operators, including cellular mobile operators (CMOs), Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), long-distance international (LDI) operators, wireless local loop (WLL) operators, and internet service providers (ISPs), during November.

Cellular mobile subscribers constitute a major part of the overall telecom subscriber base. Therefore, the maximum number of complaints belongs to this segment. The total number of complaints against CMOs by November stood at 13,857, out of which, 13,730 (99.1 per cent) were addressed.

According to the PTA data, 6,128 complaints were received against Jazz, out of which, 6,063 (98.9 per cent) were resolved. Further, 2,435 complaints against Telenor were received, out of which, 2,392 (98.2 per cent) were resolved.

Likewise, 3,453 complaints were received against Zong, out of which, 3,439 (99.6 per cent) were addressed. A total of 1,833 complaints were received against Ufone, out of which 1,828 (99.7 per cent) were resolved.

The PTA also received 190 complaints against basic telephony, out of which, 177 were addressed during November with a resolution rate of 93.2 per cent. Furthermore, 416 complaints were received against ISPs, of which, 396 (95.2 per cent) were addressed.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023