The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has reported significant growth in the telecom sector, with the total number of telecom companies in the country reaching 2,112.
Among these, five are Cellular Companies, 36 are Long Distance International (LDI) companies, 278 are Fixed Local Loop (FLL) companies, and nine are Wireless Local Loop (WLL) companies. The PTA also reported 48 Telecom Infrastructure and Tower Provider (TTP) companies, 1,142 Wireless (HF/UHF/VHF/Amateur) companies, and 584 Class Value Added Services (CVAS) companies.
Additionally, 11 licenses for international connectivity (Submarine Cable) and 35 authorizations for local mobile manufacturers have been issued by the PTA.
According to the PTA report, the telecom sector has witnessed a revenue increase of 57.7 percent from the fiscal year 2017-18 to May 2024. The number of telecom subscribers has grown by 26 percent over the same period, reflecting the sector’s rapid expansion.
Broadband subscribers have seen a staggering increase of 137 percent in the last six years, demonstrating the rising demand for internet services across the country. The total data usage in petabytes surged by an extraordinary 933 percent during this time, indicating the growing reliance on digital communication and data services.
Teledensity in Pakistan has also seen an upward trend, with the PTA report highlighting an increase from 71.1 percent in 2017-18 to 80.5 percent in May 2024. This rise reflects the expanding reach of telecom services to a larger portion of the population.
Similarly, broadband penetration has grown from 27.2 percent in 2017-18 to 56.5 percent in May 2024, showing a significant shift towards high-speed internet access in both urban and rural areas.
The PTA report further reveals that the total data usage in the country reached 13,045 petabytes by May 2024, a massive leap from just 1,262 petabytes in 2017-18. This increase underscores the escalating consumption of digital content and the critical role of broadband services in the daily lives of Pakistanis.
The telecom sector’s revenue has also surged, with earnings of Rs. 850 billion in May 2024, compared to Rs. 539 billion in 2017-18.
