In a recent session of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) presented a comprehensive analysis addressing Karachi’s persistent network disruptions. The PTA identified prolonged power outages as the primary culprit behind these issues and proposed the installation of express feeders to ensure uninterrupted power supply to telecom towers, thereby enhancing network reliability.
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Key Findings:
- Impact of Load-Shedding: The PTA’s survey revealed that, despite meeting regulatory standards for voice and data services, network availability in Karachi’s Central, East, South, West, and Malir districts suffered significantly due to extended load-shedding.
- Backup Power Limitations: Telecom infrastructures are equipped with backup systems; however, their battery life spans only 2 to 4 hours, proving inadequate during prolonged power failures.
Proposed Solution:
The PTA recommends that the government facilitate the installation of express feeders to provide an uninterrupted commercial power supply to telecom towers. This measure is anticipated to substantially improve network uptime and service quality across Karachi.
Ongoing Initiatives:
- Karachi-Hyderabad Expressway Survey: Currently, the PTA is conducting a survey along the Karachi-Hyderabad Expressway to assess telecom performance in the region, with findings expected in the first quarter of 2025.
- System Parameters Analysis: An analysis for Q4 2024 indicated that, while Zong and Ufone maintained network downtime within acceptable limits, Jazz experienced notable downtime in the Malir area. Despite these challenges, call completion rates and 4G data speeds remained above required thresholds.
Quality of Service (QoS) Assessments: Independent QoS surveys conducted in 2024 in Malir and Keamari confirmed satisfactory voice and data services across all mobile operators. Telenor led in network availability at 99.40%, while Ufone had the lowest at 97.70%. In terms of 4G throughput, Telenor again outperformed competitors with an average speed of 11.59 Mbps, followed by Jazz (6.92 Mbps), Zong (6.21 Mbps), and Ufone (5.92 Mbps).
PTA’s Commitment: The PTA assured the committee of its dedication to ongoing improvements in Karachi’s telecom infrastructure. The regulator emphasized that resolving power supply issues is crucial for achieving long-term network stability and delivering enhanced service quality to consumers.
By addressing these power-related challenges head-on, the PTA aims to provide Karachi’s residents with a more reliable and efficient telecommunications experience.
