Tech Desk 
Sep 04, 2025
An undated image. — Depositphotos
In what is expected to serve as a catalyst for early 5G launch in Pakistan, netizens in the country are reportedly turning more towards 4G while in preference over 3G mobile broadband.
A recent report issued by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) outlined a noticeable shift from 3G to 4G, with the number of mobile broadband users surpassing 147 million by the end of the month, primarily driven by increasing 4G adoption.
Likewise, internet penetration also registered a slight uptick and rose from 59.1% in June to 59.47% in July. The total number of broadband subscribers across Pakistan increased from 146.04 million to 147.25 million.
The significant upward trend in 4G adoption comes in contradiction with the overall mobile subscriptions, which dipped slightly from 197.80 million to 197.51 million.
Nevertheless, Pakistan’s teledensity improved to 80.8%, indicating that more people now have active connections, according to PhoneWorld.
The trend has painted a clear picture of fading 3G in the face of 4G takeover.
Jazz reported no subscribers on the old network, claiming to have fully abandoned 3G. The telecom giant's 4G user base grew to 54.89 million. Similarly, Zong, Telenor, and Ufone's 3G user bases also plunged and marked gains in 4G subscribers.
It's worth noting that while the transition to 4G reflects a growing reliance on 4G for daily activities like work, education, and payments, challenges remain intact, as internet speeds are still sluggish.
Adding to the woes, the looming shortage of spectrum appears to have pressured Pakistan's operators to expand network capacity and launch 5G at the earliest to meet the rising demand.
