While Jazz proudly flaunts its record-breaking revenues, the ground reality tells a different story—one of crumbling infrastructure, failing connectivity, and growing public resentment. The telecom behemoth, which claims to lead Pakistan’s digital future, is now under fire from both regulators and analysts for presiding over a systemic collapse in service quality that’s affecting millions.
Read More: Jazz Leads in Customer Complaints: PTA Data Exposes Telecom Giant’s Failures
According to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) July 2025 Digital Ecosystem Report, Pakistan’s digital infrastructure is severely underdeveloped—and Jazz, as the country’s largest mobile network operator, is central to this crisis. The report exposes a telecom sector plagued by low fiber penetration, inefficient spectrum allocation, and network bottlenecks. Jazz’s role in this decay is particularly glaring, as it continues to rake in massive profits while neglecting investment in its core infrastructure.
“ONLY 14.8% OF MOBILE TOWERS IN PAKISTAN ARE CONNECTED TO FIBER OPTICS. THE REST RELY ON OBSOLETE MICROWAVE LINKS, SEVERELY DEGRADING BROADBAND QUALITY. THIS INFRASTRUCTURE CRISIS DIRECTLY IMPLICATES MAJOR OPERATORS LIKE JAZZ,” STATES THE ADB REPORT.
This week, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) added fuel to the fire. In a July 15 Standing Committee meeting, PTA officials admitted to “widespread connectivity issues and call drops” nationwide. Officials went so far as to say that telecom companies have turned into “money-making machines,” demanding that the PTA “further tighten service quality standards.” Given Jazz’s dominant market share, the criticism lands squarely at its door.
Profits Over People: In FY 2023–24 alone, the telecom sector generated Rs. 955 billion in revenue—an increase of 17% from the previous year. Yet foreign direct investment in digital infrastructure plummeted by over 55%, from $1.67 billion to just $750 million. Analysts say this is no coincidence: major players like Jazz are channeling earnings into flashy digital ventures while ignoring the decaying backbone of the telecom system.
Industry experts point to Jazz’s over-prioritization of revenue-generating digital products over investment in fiber optics and network resilience. The ADB report reveals that despite the exponential rise in internet usage, Jazz has failed to upgrade last-mile infrastructure, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.
“IN MOST URBAN AND RURAL AREAS, JAZZ’S CUSTOMERS ARE PAYING PREMIUM RATES FOR 4G SERVICES THAT ARE DELIVERED ON 2G-ERA MICROWAVE LINKS,” SAID A FORMER PTA ENGINEER. “IT’S A DIGITAL SCAM AT NATIONAL SCALE.”
Public Backlash Mounts: Consumer rights groups have also raised alarm bells. “Customers are tired of being charged premium prices for third-rate service,” says Afshan Malik, a telecom consumer advocate. “Call drops, slow data speeds, and network outages have become the norm—while Jazz celebrates its financial wins.”
Social media is ablaze with daily complaints. Hashtags like #BoycottJazz and #JazzScam are trending, with users documenting blackouts in major cities, unauthorized charges, and SIM registration issues. The company’s recent clarification about “unauthorized foreign SIM sales” has further damaged public trust and raised concerns about regulatory compliance and security within Jazz’s sprawling distribution network.
Regulatory Failure or Collusion?: The PTA’s long-standing leniency toward Jazz is also under scrutiny. Despite numerous user complaints, punitive actions have been minimal. Insiders suggest that regulatory capture may be in play, shielding Jazz from the full weight of accountability.
“JAZZ SHOULD HAVE BEEN FINED AND AUDITED COMPREHENSIVELY YEARS AGO,” SAID A TELECOM LEGAL ANALYST. “INSTEAD, THEY’VE BEEN ALLOWED TO OPERATE UNCHECKED WHILE THE ENTIRE DIGITAL ECONOMY SUFFERS.”
Calls for Action: With Pakistan’s 4G coverage and digital infrastructure ranked among the lowest in the region—behind even Bangladesh and Ethiopia—experts say it’s time to hold Jazz accountable. According to ADB’s global comparison, Pakistan ranks 133rd in Network Readiness and 169th in ICT Development Index, largely due to poor telecom services.
Industry analysts and civil society are now calling on the PTA and Ministry of IT to:
- Launch an independent audit of Jazz’s infrastructure investments
- Impose strict service-level benchmarks and financial penalties for noncompliance
- Break the monopolistic practices by incentivizing infrastructure sharing
- Require Jazz to reinvest a fixed share of annual profits into underserved regions
A Turning Point?: As the PTA signals a tougher stance, and the ADB report lays bare the telecom sector’s structural rot, Jazz finds itself at a crossroads. Will it double down on profits while the network collapses—or invest in the future it claims to lead?
Either way, the public has run out of patience. And this time, the regulators might just be watching.
