According to the most recent data released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Pakistan’s total number of cellular subscribers has decreased for the third consecutive month, falling from 196.860 million in August 2025 to 196.194 million at the end of September.
Since June 2025, when the total number of subscribers was 197.804 million, the report shows that the number of active SIMs across networks has been steadily decreasing.
In contrast, there was a slight increase in the number of 3G and 4G users during the same time period. The total broadband user base increased from 147.713 million in August to 148.059 million in September, representing a net addition of approximately 0.346 million new users.
This uptick also pushed the Next Generation Mobile Services (NGMS) penetration rate slightly upward, from 59.56 percent to 59.6 percent—suggesting continued demand for mobile broadband services.
At 80.04 percent, teledensity, which measures the number of mobile connections per 100 people, remained relatively constant.
Among individual operators, Jazz’s 3G user base remained at zero, while its 4G subscribers dipped marginally from 55.094 million to 55.077 million. Zong’s 4G user base increased slightly, from 41.062 million to 41.152 million, while its 3G user base decreased slightly, from 1.749 million to 1.744 million.
Telenor Pakistan followed a similar pattern, with 4G subscriptions rising to 27.064 million while 3G users decreased to 1.011 million. Ufone, on the other hand, saw its 3G base shrink from 1.618 million to 1.448 million, accompanied by an increase in 4G customers—from 18.359 million to 18.742 million by the end of September.
Despite the steady adoption of 4G services, the continued decline in the overall cellular base suggests market saturation and reduced SIM activity, a trend that industry experts believe may persist until new services such as 5G or enhanced digital ecosystems drive renewed user growth.
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