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Pakistan’s mobile telecom industry recorded an average annual revenue growth of 9 percent over the past five years despite high inflation and rising operating costs, according to a document released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
The PTA data shows that Zong led revenue growth with an average of 12 percent, followed by Jazz and Ufone at 11 percent each, while Telenor trailed with 3 percent growth. During the same period, average inflation stood at 17 percent, indicating that real revenue growth remained under pressure due to a challenging macroeconomic environment.
In a written reply to the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, the PTA reiterated its authority under the Pakistan Telecommunication Act 1996 to regulate tariffs and ensure fair competition. The regulator said it determines operators with Significant Market Power and oversees their pricing to protect consumer interests.
PTA clarified that Jazz has been declared an SMP operator in the retail mobile market and must seek prior approval for tariff changes. Telenor, Ufone and Zong, categorized as non-SMP operators, may revise tariffs independently, although the regulator can intervene if consumers are adversely affected.
“The recent tariff adjustments reflect severe economic pressures faced by telecom operators,” the PTA said, citing sharp increases in fuel prices, inflation, interest rates and currency depreciation over the past three years.
The regulator noted that Pakistan continues to offer some of the lowest mobile data prices globally, with the cost of 1GB among the cheapest worldwide. However, the sector’s average revenue per user remains low at around $1.12 in early 2025, limiting operators’ ability to absorb rising costs.
