Jazz tops Pakistan’s telecom BTS race with 16,247 sites

May 20, 2026 (MLN): Jazz has emerged as Pakistan’s largest telecom infrastructure operator, with 16,247 Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites currently operational nationwide, including 16,003 4G-enabled stations, according to the latest infrastructure data available with Wealth Pakistan.

The latest figures highlight the rapid expansion of Pakistan’s telecom sector, where nationwide operational BTS sites have reached 57,044, showing growing demand for mobile connectivity and high-speed internet services across the country.

CMPak followed closely with 15,882 BTS sites, maintaining a balanced network across 2G, 3G, and 4G technologies. Telenor Pakistan operates 13,034 BTS installations, while Ufone maintains 11,881 BTS sites supporting nationwide mobile coverage, according to APP.

Overall, Pakistan currently hosts 57,029 2G stations, 33,308 3G stations, and 55,088 4G stations, underlining the country’s accelerating shift toward high-speed 4G connectivity, while legacy networks continue serving millions of users in both urban and rural areas.

The continued expansion of 4G infrastructure reflects increasing reliance on digital services, online platforms, mobile banking, e-commerce, and internet-based communication, driving telecom operators to strengthen network coverage and capacity.

Pakistan is also moving toward a broader digital transformation strategy through a government-backed telecom framework aimed at facilitating the rollout of next-generation technologies, including 5G and future-ready network infrastructure.

To improve affordability and digital inclusion, the government is encouraging local manufacturing and supporting the development of a stronger mobile device ecosystem.

Additional initiatives also focus on energy-efficient solutions and reliable power infrastructure for telecom networks.

In a major policy move to support broadband expansion, the government has abolished Right of Way (RoW) charges across federal, provincial, and local jurisdictions under a unified national policy.

The decision is expected to lower fiber deployment costs, speed up broadband rollout, and encourage private sector investment, particularly in underserved and remote areas.

Meanwhile, proposed amendments to the Pakistan Telecom Act are under process to provide legal backing for the ongoing telecom sector reforms.

Copyright Mettis Link News