Pakistan’s cellular market continued to shrink in September 2025, marking the third straight month of decline in overall mobile subscriptions, according to the latest data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
The total number of cellular subscribers dropped to 196.194 million by the end of September, down from 196.860 million in August. In June, the figure stood at 197.804 million, showing a consistent downward trend over the past quarter.
However, broadband connectivity showed signs of growth. The total number of 3G and 4G users climbed from 147.713 million in August to 148.059 million in September, adding around 0.346 million new users in a month. The Next Generation Mobile Service (NGMS) penetration rate also inched up from 59.56% to 59.6%, reflecting steady progress in mobile broadband adoption.
Meanwhile, the overall teledensity, the number of mobile connections per 100 people, remained largely unchanged at 80.04% during the same period.
Among the major operators, Jazz reported no 3G users, while its 4G subscribers slightly dipped from 55.094 million in August to 55.077 million in September. Zong maintained a positive trend, with 4G subscriptions rising from 41.062 million to 41.152 million, though its 3G users fell from 1.749 million to 1.744 million.
Telenor Pakistan also experienced mixed results. Its 3G user base declined from 1.045 million to 1.011 million, while its 4G customers grew from 26.964 million to 27.064 million.
Similarly, Ufone saw its 3G subscribers drop from 1.618 million to 1.448 million, but its 4G users increased from 18.359 million to 18.742 million by the end of September.