PTA Highlights Broadband Quality Issues at Pace Telecom, Falcon Broadband
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has recently identified performance shortcomings in broadband services provided by Pace Telecom and Falcon Broadband, based on its Quality of Service (QoS) survey for the third quarter of 2026.
Broadband Service Deficiencies Reported
During the period from July to September 2026, the regulatory body examined 23 internet providers operating in 21 major cities. The survey revealed that Pace Telecom in Abbottabad failed to meet the core and access network availability targets, registering 99.73 percent and 97.13 percent respectively, both below PTA’s standards of 99.9 and 99 percent. Furthermore, Falcon Broadband in Vehari exceeded the prescribed jitter limit with measurements reaching 40.61 milliseconds against the maximum allowed 15 milliseconds, potentially compromising real-time applications such as video calls and gaming.
Overall Industry Performance and Areas for Improvement
The inspection assessed seven key metrics including latency, bandwidth utilization, download and upload speeds, and network availability. Although many operators complied with minimum requirements, some providers were found to have excessive bandwidth usage, risking slower speeds during peak hours. Of the 28 city-operator combinations evaluated, 16 met full compliance across all parameters. Conversely, Pace Telecom’s Abbottabad network scored the lowest compliance of 57.14 percent, while their Swat operation fared better. Other ISPs flagged for performance gaps include Net-Cloud Telecom, New Millennium Network, TES Media, GH Wireless, and Wateen WiMax among others.
Implications for Pakistani Internet Users
Internet quality directly influences the growing digital economy and day-to-day connectivity for millions across Pakistan. Network instability and high jitter might hamper not only entertainment and communication but also remote work and digital education initiatives. PTA’s enforcement of quality regulations aims to ensure operators enhance capacity and reliability, ultimately protecting consumer interests and supporting the country’s digital infrastructure development.
“These evaluations help maintain a competitive broadband market and encourage providers to upgrade networks to meet evolving user demands,” the PTA stated following the survey.
