Jazz topped PTA’s latest network quality survey in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, beating every other mobile operator on speed, voice calls, and mobile data quality. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) ran the live Quality of Experience (QoE) and Quality of Service (QoS) field exercise on 5 November 2026, putting all four networks through their paces across the capital’s busiest roads.
What the PTA Network Quality Survey Found
Jazz emerged as the top performer in network speed, voice call consistency, and overall user experience during the comparative QoE and QoS survey run by PTA across Islamabad and Rawalpindi. This was not a lab test. Officials and media representatives made live voice calls and used mobile data services to assess actual network performance under everyday conditions.
Three dedicated teams ran parallel assessments along routes covering the New Islamabad International Airport, T-Chowk, Murree Road via Faizabad, Rawal Road, the old airport area, Srinagar Highway, Constitution Avenue, Club Road, and other connecting corridors.
PTA said the initial results showed excellent performance, reflecting improvements in the quality and reliability of telecom services across the surveyed areas. However, the regulator also flagged real problems. The initial assessment found mobile call and data services generally satisfactory in most inspected areas, but teams also identified shortcomings in call quality and internet services at certain locations.
Why Jazz Did Well in the PTA Network Quality Survey
The comparative assessment highlighted the progress made by mobile operators in improving service quality, with Jazz’s performance reflecting the combined impact of additional spectrum, network modernization, and accelerated 5G deployment.
This result fits a pattern seen all year. Jazz emerged as Pakistan’s best-performing mobile network in the PTA’s Independent QoS Survey for the first quarter of 2026, securing the highest overall ranking in 14 of the 18 surveyed cities. In the second quarter, Jazz ranked first in Quetta, Peshawar, Multan, Lahore, Islamabad, Sukkur, Hub, Abbottabad, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi.
Jazz currently has around 75 million subscribers in Pakistan and remained ahead of rivals, though voice quality does not always move in the same direction as data performance. That gap between data speed and voice reliability is something users across the country have noticed, and it is one area operators still need to fix.
Who Else Was Involved in the Survey
The survey was attended by PTA Member (Finance) Muhammad Naveed, Member (Compliance and Enforcement) Dr. Khawar Siddique Khokhar, Member (Telecom) Muhammad Jahanzeb Rahim, Director General (Enforcement) Brigadier (Retd.) Amir Shehzad, and other senior PTA officials. Telecom company representatives accompanied the inspection teams, along with officials from the Ministry of IT and Telecommunications.
The November 5 exercise was not PTA’s first this season. Thursday’s exercise followed a shorter network performance survey conducted on Saturday, October 31, by PTA’s Director General (Enforcement), as the regulator continues to monitor improvements following recent network upgrades, optimization activities, and efficient utilization of spectrum. On top of that, PTA inspected 184 mobile sites from 22 to 28 October 2026, pushing its cumulative count of monitored sites past 900.
What This Means for Pakistani Mobile Users
The PTA is running more field checks than it has in years, and that matters for ordinary users. For people who live and work in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the survey results are a useful guide. Jazz appears to be the safer pick if you need fast mobile data or reliable voice calls on the city’s main roads.
But the findings also show that no network is perfect everywhere. The survey aimed to evaluate mobile network performance, service availability, and actual consumer experience, while identifying potential service gaps and areas requiring improvement. That means the regulator is building a list of weak spots and operators are expected to fix them.
Pakistan’s cellular mobile operators have failed to meet several prescribed quality benchmarks, with mobile broadband emerging as the most significant area of concern, according to PTA’s QoS survey for Q2 2026. The assessment was conducted under the Cellular Mobile Network Quality of Service Regulations, 2021, which require operators to meet or exceed prescribed performance standards.
You can read more about PTA’s regulatory role and its broader digital oversight work on the PTA official website. For context on how Pakistan’s digital infrastructure connects to wider economic goals, see our earlier piece on Pakistan’s digital transformation plan targeting $80 billion in GDP.
PTA says it remains committed to strengthening regulatory oversight through regular field monitoring, evidence-based assessments, and close coordination with telecom operators to ensure continuous improvement in service quality. More surveys in more cities are expected before the year ends.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the PTA Quality of Experience survey?
The PTA Quality of Experience (QoE) survey is a live field test where PTA teams drive along major roads in a city, make real phone calls, and test mobile data speeds on all major networks at the same time. The goal is to see how each network actually performs for ordinary users, not just in a lab. Results are measured against standards set in the Cellular Mobile Network Quality of Service Regulations, 2021.
Which network topped the PTA survey in the twin cities on 5 November 2026?
Jazz came first. It led all other operators on network speed, voice call consistency, and overall mobile data quality across Islamabad and Rawalpindi. PTA said Jazz’s strong result came from extra spectrum, network upgrades, and faster 5G rollout.
Did PTA find any network problems in Islamabad and Rawalpindi?
Yes. While most tested areas showed satisfactory service, PTA teams did identify weak spots in call quality and internet service at certain locations in the twin cities. Operators are expected to address those gaps as the regulator continues its monitoring programme.
How often does PTA run these network quality checks?
PTA runs quarterly QoS surveys covering multiple cities across Pakistan and also conducts ad-hoc field inspections between quarters. In October and November 2026 alone, the regulator ran multiple exercises in the twin cities and inspected more than 900 mobile sites nationwide.
