How to Choose a Mobile Network in Pakistan Using PTA's Two Surveys

Short answer: PTA published two network surveys for April to June 2026, and they measure different things. The drive test checks set areas with PTA's own equipment. The Opensignal survey collects real users' phone data in 20 cities. Use the drive test for its 13 areas and Opensignal for your city.

Ask ten friends which network is best and you get five answers. Both of PTA's recent reports are real, and they can still point to different winners. That is not a mistake. They count different things.

We read both reports on 13 October 2026: PTA's independent drive test of focus and rural areas, and the Mobile Network Experience Benchmarking Report that PTA published with Opensignal. Here is how each one works and how to use them to pick a SIM.

The drive test measures set areas with PTA's own tools

PTA's Enforcement Division ran a drive test in 13 focus areas, such as parts of Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, plus rural areas. It made about 3,300 calls and SMS tests and 24,000 data tests over 26 days, and judged them by PTA's 2021 quality rules.

The rules set pass marks. For example, download speed must be above 4 Mbps, upload above 1 Mbps, delay (latency) under 75 milliseconds, and a web page must load in under 5 seconds. A network either passes or fails each mark in each area.

Because the teams use the same method for all four operators, this survey is good for a fair, like-for-like comparison. Its weakness is size. It covers only the areas PTA chose.

The Opensignal survey measures real users in 20 cities

The Opensignal report covers 20 cities over the 90 days of the second quarter of 2026. It uses data from real smartphone users, indoors and outdoors, in busy and quiet hours. PTA says it reflects everyday use such as video, calls and browsing.

Opensignal counts each phone once, which it calls one device, one vote. It leaves out customers of virtual operators and people on roaming. It also removes extreme high and low values, so one very fast or very slow test does not skew the average.

PTA's own note says Opensignal results may differ from PTA's drive tests, because one measures what users experience and the other measures the network under controlled tests.

Each survey gives a different headline number

The drive test ranks operators on pass marks and speed in each area. The Opensignal report gives national averages first. Use the numbers below to see what each one tells you, and what it does not.

The drive test also reports that Ufone and Zong passed the web page test in all 13 areas, Jazz in 11 and Telenor in nine. Telenor passed the 4G signal test in six of 13 areas, against 10 for Jazz and for Ufone.

The Opensignal report adds scores no drive test gives: a video score of 37.53 out of 100 and a games score of 43.85 on 4G, and the share of time a phone is on 4G, at 93.67 percent. On 5G it reports 127.74 Mbps but only 3.95 percent of time on 5G, and PTA calls the 5G figures indicative only.

Pick a SIM in five steps using both surveys

Start with your own place. If your street is one of the drive test areas, that survey is the best guide. If not, use the Opensignal result for your city, and then test a SIM yourself before you commit.

1. Find your city or area in the two reports.
2. Note which operator passes the signal and speed marks in the drive test, if your area is covered.
3. Check the Opensignal city table for download, video and time on network.
4. Ask neighbours which network works inside your house.
5. Try a cheap SIM from the leading two networks for a week, then keep one.

You do not have to give up your number. You can port your mobile number to another network if you decide to switch. To test a network yourself, use the same kind of speed test PTA uses.

Where each survey can mislead you

Neither survey tells you how a network works inside your own bedroom. The Opensignal report itself warns that time on network is not a measure of geographic reach, and says it does not show whether you get a signal in a remote area.

The drive test is also a snapshot. It drove set routes for 26 days, so a network that is strong on the road can still be weak in a basement flat.

For detailed results, read the existing breakdowns of the PTA focus area results for DHA and Bahria Islamabad, the PTA survey by city and the fastest 4G network in your city. If your speed is far below normal, see what mobile internet speed is normal in Pakistan.

Common questions

Which PTA survey is more reliable?

Both are reliable for what they measure. The drive test is a controlled comparison of set areas. The Opensignal report reflects real user experience across 20 cities.

Why do the two surveys give different winners?

PTA says Opensignal measures user experience, while the drive test measures network performance under controlled tests, so results can differ.

What are the pass marks in PTA's drive test?

Download above 4 Mbps, upload above 1 Mbps, latency under 75 milliseconds and web page loading under 5 seconds, among others in the 2021 quality rules.

How long did the Opensignal measurement run?

Opensignal collected data over 90 days in the second quarter of 2026, and PTA published the report on 29 September 2026.

Does the Opensignal survey count virtual operators?

No. The report says customers of virtual operators and roaming users are excluded.

Can I keep my number if I change network?

Yes, through mobile number portability. Ask your new network how to port the number.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read PTA's QoS survey page and downloaded the Q2 2026 focus and rural areas survey and the Mobile Network Experience Benchmarking Report from it. We do not give operator-by-operator Opensignal figures, because the report text does not label its columns. Check the report's own tables for your city.