PTA fines telcos Rs 68.9m as 9,000 mobile sites face major network issues across Pakistan

LAHORE (News Desk) – The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has taken strict action against telecom companies for providing poor mobile and internet service.

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According to official documents, PTA has fined mobile operators a total of Rs 68.9 million over the last five years for failing to meet service quality standards.
PTA issued 39 show-cause notices and 17 warning letters to the companies. So far, Rs 13.6 million has been recovered, while 11 cases are still in court. Another Rs 32.05 million is being held as a bank guarantee with the Islamabad High Court.

Despite these penalties, problems remain serious nationwide. The documents show that around 9,000 mobile sites across Pakistan are currently suffering from network availability issues. PTA says the main reasons include long power load-shedding, right-of-way disputes, limited commercial electricity, electricity theft, and vandalism at mobile towers.
The situation is worst in KP, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, where service quality has fallen to an “alarming” level and still does not meet the required standards.

Public frustration is rising. In the first half of this year alone, PTA received more than 8,000 consumer complaints about call drops, weak signals, and slow mobile data. According to the regulator, 99.17% of these complaints have been resolved through its helpline, mobile app, and online portal.
To keep checks on operators, PTA conducted 89 planned quality-of-service surveys and 78 complaint-based tests this year. These surveys helped the authority take action where service was found below the required level.

PTA says it is committed to improving telecom services across Pakistan. The regulator has asked parliamentarians and the public to point out areas with poor or no service so quick steps can be taken. PTA has also urged telecom companies to speed up repairs, improve backup power at towers, and protect sites from theft and damage.

Despite action and penalties, the gap between what companies promise and what customers receive remains large, especially in underserved areas where millions still struggle to get stable mobile and internet service.