Latest PTA QoS Report Highlights Performance Gaps Among Telcos

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) conducted an independent Quality of Service (QoS) survey in 18 cities across Pakistan during the third Quarter of 2024. The survey aimed to assess the performance of Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) based on the Cellular Mobile Network QoS Regulations 2021. The comprehensive survey evaluated Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs) on various performance metrics, including network accessibility, data throughput, voice, and SMS services. Over 0.29 million mobile broadband tests and 41,700 voice and SMS samples were conducted, covering 2,400 kilometers in 63 days.

Network Accessibility:

The Quality of Service (QoS) performance data highlights varying results for telecom operators across multiple cities in Pakistan. Jazz showcases robust Network Accessibility, achieving nearly 100% in all surveyed cities, but its performance is uneven in other areas. While its Throughput is impressive in cities like Hyderabad and Korangi, reaching 31 Mbps, it falls to just 19.6 Mbps in Sadiqabad. Call Connection Time remains a weak point for Jazz, with delays of 10.8 seconds in Ziarat. Similarly, its Mean Opinion Score (MOS) fluctuates, with a strong 3.86 in Hyderabad but a disappointing 3.05 in Ziarat, indicating variability in voice call quality.

Zong, on the other hand, emerges as a consistent performer, with Throughput speeds peaking at 25 Mbps in Quetta. Its Network Accessibility hovers near 100% in all cities, and Call Completion Rates are equally strong, achieving 100% in most areas, such as Hyderabad, Murree, and Sialkot. However, Zong’s Call Connection Times remain low for Zong in most cities. Zong also excels in voice quality, with MOS ratings consistently above 3.3 in most cities, reaching 3.52 in Hyderabad and 3.62 in Toba Tek Singh.

Ufone and Telenor, while maintaining high Network Accessibility, often struggle in other metrics. Ufone’s Throughput averages between 6 and 10 Mbps in most cities, but it drops significantly to just 3.8 Mbps in Murree. Similarly, its MOS is inconsistent, ranging from 3.3 in Quetta to 3.48 in Hyderabad. Telenor faces even more challenges, with Throughput as low as 2.3 Mbps in Murree. Telenor’s MOS remains subpar,  across surveyed cities, and its Call Connection Times, such as 4.5 seconds in Swabi, further highlights the need for significant improvement. Both operators need substantial infrastructure upgrades to compete effectively in the market, where Zong and Jazz dominate key performance indicators.

Download & Upload Speeds:

Jazz leads in download speeds, achieving 33.21 Mbps. However, its upload speed is 22.74 Mbps, placing it behind other operators. Zong performs slightly lower in download speeds at 32.56 Mbps but excels in upload speed with 23.18 Mbps, the highest among all. Ufone delivers a modest 12.68 Mbps for downloads and 16.1 Mbps for uploads. Telenor lags behind with the slowest download speed of 7.95 Mbps and the lowest upload speed at 6.18 Mbps.

Call Connection Time and SMS Send Time

For SMS send time, Zong is the fastest at 2.73 seconds, followed by Ufone at 2.74 seconds. Telenor takes 3.42 seconds while jazz performs worst with 3.81 seconds. In terms of call connection time, Ufone has the slowest call connection time at 5.43 seconds, followed by Zong at 5.29 seconds. Telenor performs decently with 3.73 seconds, while Jazz takes the lead at 3.51 seconds.

Mean Opinion Score (MOS):

The Mean Opinion Score (MOS) reflects user experience in voice services. Jazz remained ahead in this indicator with a score of 3.73, followed by Zong at 3.67. Telenor is third with a score of 3.6, while Ufone ranks lowest at 3.47. These scores indicate a competitive but slightly varying voice quality among operators.

4. Network Latency (ms)

Zong leads with the lowest network latency of 22.4 ms, ensuring the fastest response times. Jazz follows with a latency of 35 ms, while Ufone and Telenor have slightly higher latencies of 39.6 ms and 40 ms, respectively. Lower latency enhances user experience, especially for real-time applications. It also provides faster browsing speeds and video loading times.

Best Performer?

The latest PTA Quality of Service (QoS) Survey reveals significant differences in the performance of telecom operators across key metrics, including network coverage, mobile broadband, voice, and SMS services. Zong emerges as the top performer in several categories, ranking 1st in network coverage, mobile broadband throughput (auto mode, 3rd party app download, latency auto mode, and 3rd party app), and SMS services.

The largest telecom operator Jazz was ranked second and third across most indicators including coverage, mobile broadband, voice, and SMS. It showed notable strength in third-party apps downloads, where it ranked 1st. However, Jazz showed inconsistency in other areas.

Ufone and Telenor trail behind, securing 3rd and 4th positions in most categories. Ufone and Telenor need substantial improvements to compete with the leading operators. Though both operators remained top performers in mobile broadband latency, there is considerable room for improvements in other areas.

Our Take:

The PTA Quality of Service (QoS) survey presents a mixed picture of telecom performance in Pakistan. Zong’s dominance across key metrics such as network latency, upload speeds, and SMS services underscores its consistent delivery of high-quality services. This reflects positively on its operational efficiency and customer experience. Meanwhile, Jazz’s performance, while impressive in certain areas like third-party app downloads lags behind in major other areas. The operator’s struggles with call connection time and variability in voice quality raise concerns about its ability to provide uniform service across regions. Despite being the largest telecom operator, these gaps highlight the need for Jazz to address its network optimization and service reliability issues.

On the other hand, Ufone and Telenor continue to lag behind, securing lower rankings in most categories. Although their performance in mobile broadband latency is noteworthy, it fails to compensate for their deficiencies in throughput, SMS sending times, and network coverage. This signals the need for strategic investments and technological upgrades to remain competitive in the increasingly demanding telecom landscape.

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