ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced on Friday that broadband subscriptions in the country had reached 100 million.

The PTA said there were fewer than 2m subscriptions in 2012, but after the introduction of 3G service the figure jumped to 16m in 2014 and now stood at 100m.

The telecom sector regulator claimed that currently around 87 per cent of the country’s population had access to internet/broadband services at one of the lowest rates in the region.

Moreover, broadband is provided over 3G/4G networks with an average download speed of 17.7Mbps and upload speed of 11.3Mbps (mobile) which is above the speed levels in other regional countries, it claimed.

PTA says 87pc of country’s population has access to internet services at one of lowest rates in region

Mobile data prices declined to only 0.70pc of the gross national income (GNI) per capita which is well below the UN Broadband Commission’s recommendation of less than 2pc.

All four national cellular mobile operators (CMOs), SCO and fixed line broadband operators, including PTCL, collectively have broadband subscriptions of over 100m now. It has become possible due to the growing usage of data services in every segment of national economy, popularity among users and introduction of new and innovative services by the operators.

Pakistan’s telecom sector has achieved many milestones previously also such as reaching 100m mobile subscriptions in 2010, introduction of the first-ever biometrically verified SIMs across the country in 2009 and implementation of the world’s first open-source Device Identification Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) in 2019.

The PTA lauded the users and service providers for achieving this landmark and announced that crossing the 100m benchmark would be formally celebrated soon with all the stakeholders and national/international telecom community.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2021

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

World Cup squad
24 Sep, 2023

World Cup squad

THE stress was on continuity — trusting and backing players who had been with the team — as Pakistan’s squad...
Mirwaiz freed
Updated 24 Sep, 2023

Mirwaiz freed

It is safe to assume that the release of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq could not have been possible without the green light from New Delhi.
Beyond lip service
24 Sep, 2023

Beyond lip service

UN SECRETARY GENERAL António Guterres did not mince words at the recently held Climate Ambition Summit: “Humanity...
IMF chief’s advice
Updated 23 Sep, 2023

IMF chief’s advice

Pakistan's prolonged fiscal deficit, surpassing 7pc, stems from the government's reluctance to widen the tax base.
No closure
Updated 23 Sep, 2023

No closure

WHAT is a Pakistani life worth in the eyes of the state? Clearly not enough, if one were to draw a comparison with...
Missing footballers
23 Sep, 2023

Missing footballers

IN the nation’s living memory, Balochistan’s burns have never run dry. The province has grappled with historical...