The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has found that most fixed broadband operators met the country’s Quality of Service (QoS) standards during the second quarter of 2026, while identifying performance shortcomings at PTCL, NTC and several other providers.
The regulator evaluated 34 fixed broadband service providers across 24 cities under the Fixed Broadband Quality of Service Regulations, 2022. The assessment measured key network performance indicators, including bandwidth utilization, network availability, latency, jitter, and download and upload throughput.
Several operators achieved full compliance with PTA’s QoS benchmarks, including Cyber Internet Services, New Millennium Network and Global Xperts in Abbottabad, SCO in Barah and Khaplu, The Professional Communications in Islamabad, Netpoint IT & Communication in Jatlan, Helium Communication, Satcomm, Supernet, Telecard and Global Connect Synergy in Karachi, NayaTel, Call 2 Phone and NU Internet in Lahore, Connect Communications in Mardan, Broadband Business Ideas in Matiari, PTCL and Comsats Internet Services in Multan, Cyber Internet Services in Peshawar, CMPak LDI and TES Media in Quetta, Gamma Links in Rawalpindi, Nexgen Telecommunication and Micro Tel in Sargodha, and NTC and Wancom in Sukkur.
Partial compliance was recorded for Air Touch Wireless in Batkhela, PTCL and NTC in Gwadar, NayaTel in Islamabad and Multan, Net-Cloud Telecom in Kabirwala, Kot Jamel Cable Network, Pace Telecom in Mardan and Quetta, Mansoorah Telecommunications in Mian Channu, Prime Broadband in Sahiwal, Classic Broadband in Sehnsa, and Galaxy Technology in Sukkur. PTCL’s Gwadar network posted the lowest compliance score at just 42.86 percent.
PTA conducted inspections at operators’ Network Operation Centres (NOCs) to collect real-time data from Abbottabad, Arifwala, Barah, Batkhela, Gwadar, Hussainabad, Islamabad, Jatlan, Kabirwala, Karachi, Khaplu, Kot Jamel, Lahore, Mardan, Matiari, Mian Channu, Multan, Peshawar, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Sehnsa and Sukkur.
The regulator said most operators remained below the prescribed bandwidth utilization threshold of 80 percent. However, some providers exceeded the limit, increasing the risk of network congestion and slower internet speeds during peak usage.
For network availability, operators are required to maintain at least 99.9 percent uptime for core nodes and 99 percent for access nodes. Prime Broadband, Net-Cloud Telecom, Pace Telecom and PTCL failed to meet the core node benchmark, while Net-Cloud Telecom also missed the access node availability requirement.
Most providers complied with the maximum local latency benchmark of 40 milliseconds and the international terrestrial latency limit of 110 milliseconds. PTCL, Kot Jamel Cable Network and NTC exceeded the local latency threshold, while NTC and Mansoorah Telecommunications also recorded higher-than-permitted international latency.
The survey further found that most operators met the jitter requirement of below 15 milliseconds, which is essential for services such as video conferencing and online gaming. Air Touch Wireless, PTCL, NTC and Kot Jamel Cable Network exceeded the allowable limit, potentially affecting real-time internet performance.
PTA also requires broadband providers to deliver minimum download and upload speeds of 4 Mbps and 2 Mbps, respectively. While most operators met these throughput standards, PTCL and NTC fell short of the required performance levels.
The regulator concluded that overall broadband quality remains satisfactory across Pakistan, with most operators complying with QoS standards. It added that providers failing to meet the benchmarks have been directed to improve network capacity, optimize routing and strengthen network resilience to achieve full regulatory compliance.
