Zong recorded Pakistan’s fastest national 4G download and upload speeds in the second quarter of 2026, according to the latest mobile network experience benchmarking cited by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority. Jazz ranked second in both speed categories, while Ufone led the national mobile gaming experience measure. The results give consumers a fresh picture of how Pakistan’s major mobile networks are performing in everyday use across the country.
The benchmarking was based on measurements collected over 90 days through Opensignal and covered Jazz, Telenor, Ufone and Zong across Pakistan and 20 cities. It assessed five major user-experience categories: download speed, upload speed, video experience, games experience and time on network. Unlike controlled drive tests, the methodology reflects performance experienced by real smartphone users across different locations, devices and times of day.
Zong posted an average national 4G download speed of 18.55 Mbps, narrowly ahead of Jazz at 17.61 Mbps. Ufone followed at 12.82 Mbps, while Telenor recorded 7.5 Mbps. On upload speeds, Zong again led at 7.81 Mbps, followed by Jazz at 6.26 Mbps, Ufone at 4.42 Mbps and Telenor at 2.82 Mbps.
The report also showed that network performance is not determined by speed alone. Ufone ranked first in games experience, while Zong led the time-on-network measure and narrowly topped video experience. That split matters because different users care about different things: a fast download score may be important for streaming and large files, while gaming responsiveness, consistency and availability can matter more for other users.
What the Latest PTA Benchmark Shows
The latest benchmark gives Zong the clearest national lead in 4G speed experience. Its 18.55 Mbps download result placed it almost one megabit per second ahead of Jazz, while its upload result created a larger gap over competitors. For users who frequently upload videos, send large media files, use cloud applications or rely on mobile data for work, upload performance can be just as important as download speed.
Jazz remained a close competitor. Its national 4G download average of 17.61 Mbps was only slightly behind Zong, and its upload speed of 6.26 Mbps also kept it firmly in second place. This suggests Pakistan’s two largest mobile data competitors remain closely matched in many everyday use cases, even though the benchmark gives Zong the edge at the national level.
Ufone’s results were more mixed. Its national download and upload speeds were lower than Zong and Jazz, but it took first place in games experience with a score of 50.08. Zong followed in that category at 47.28. Gaming scores are influenced by responsiveness, stability and other factors that go beyond headline download speed, so Ufone’s performance shows why network comparisons should not be reduced to a single metric.
Telenor ranked fourth in both national 4G download and upload speed experience in the latest results. That does not mean every customer in every location will receive the same outcome, but the national averages highlight the competitive pressure on operators to improve capacity, coverage and user experience as data demand continues to rise.
National 4G Download and Upload Speeds
The national 4G download ranking was led by Zong at 18.55 Mbps, followed by Jazz at 17.61 Mbps, Ufone at 12.82 Mbps and Telenor at 7.5 Mbps. These figures represent average user experience rather than laboratory maximums, making them more relevant to what customers may see during routine smartphone use.
For uploads, Zong led at 7.81 Mbps, Jazz followed at 6.26 Mbps, Ufone recorded 4.42 Mbps and Telenor 2.82 Mbps. Upload performance has become increasingly important as more Pakistanis create video content, use social platforms, work remotely and send media-rich files through messaging and cloud services.
The report also cited a national average 4G download speed of 18.9 Mbps across all devices, rising to 31.3 Mbps on high-end devices. That difference is important because network performance depends not only on the operator but also on the smartphone, modem capability, supported bands and radio conditions. Users with newer devices can often take better advantage of available network capacity.
Zong Also Leads Video and Time on Network
Speed was not Zong’s only strong category. It scored 41.66 out of 100 in national video experience, just ahead of Jazz at 41.51. The tiny gap suggests that video streaming performance between the two networks is highly competitive at the national level.
Zong also recorded the highest time on network at 96.59 percent. Jazz followed at 93.33 percent, Telenor at 92.58 percent and Ufone at 92.16 percent. Time on network measures how often users remain connected to a mobile data network, making it a useful indicator of availability and continuity.
For consumers, this can matter as much as raw speed. A network that performs well in short speed tests but frequently drops users off mobile data may feel less reliable in daily use. Zong’s lead in time on network therefore strengthens its overall showing in the benchmarking report.
Ufone Leads Mobile Gaming Experience
Ufone’s first-place finish in gaming experience is one of the most notable findings because it shows that different operators can lead in different dimensions of service quality. Ufone scored 50.08 points, ahead of Zong at 47.28.
Online gaming depends heavily on latency, consistency and packet delivery rather than download speed alone. A network with moderate download speeds can still deliver a strong gaming experience if its connection remains responsive and stable. That is why gaming-focused users should look beyond a single speed ranking when choosing a network.
The broader national games experience score was 43.85, indicating that there is still significant room for improvement across Pakistan’s mobile networks. As mobile gaming and real-time applications continue to grow, operators are likely to face more pressure to reduce latency and improve consistency.
City Results Show No Single Network Wins Everywhere
Although Zong led the national speed rankings, city-level results were more varied. Zong led all five measured categories in Lahore and Multan. It also led download, upload and time on network in Karachi, while Jazz topped video experience and Ufone led gaming in the city.
Jazz performed strongly in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where it led download and video experience. In Hyderabad, Jazz narrowly recorded the fastest download speed at 18.54 Mbps compared with Zong at 18.46 Mbps.
Zong also led all five categories in Gujranwala and Sialkot. In Mirpur, Skardu and Muzaffarabad, where SCO also operates, Zong recorded the fastest download speeds at 19.06 Mbps, 14.76 Mbps and 14.7 Mbps respectively.
These city-level differences are a reminder that the best network for one consumer can depend heavily on location. Signal strength, tower density, spectrum availability, local congestion and indoor coverage can all produce different results from one neighbourhood to another.
Why the Benchmark Matters for Consumers
Pakistan’s mobile internet market is increasingly central to everyday life. Banking, e-commerce, ride-hailing, education, entertainment, social media and government services all depend on reliable mobile data. Network performance therefore has a direct impact on productivity and consumer experience.
The benchmark gives users a broader evidence base when comparing operators. Instead of relying only on advertising claims or individual speed tests, consumers can look at national and city-level experience across several categories.
However, users should still consider their own location. A network that ranks first nationally may not necessarily be strongest inside a particular home, office or district. For many customers, local coverage and consistency will remain more important than the national average.
What It Means for Pakistan’s Telecom Competition
The results underline how closely contested Pakistan’s telecom market remains. Zong’s speed lead gives it a strong marketing advantage, but Jazz remains close in download and upload experience and leads in some cities. Ufone’s gaming result gives it a differentiated strength, while all operators face pressure to improve as data consumption grows.
Competition on network quality is becoming more important as price-based differentiation becomes harder. Consumers increasingly expect faster speeds, stronger indoor coverage, better streaming and low-latency connections without major price increases.
That means operators must continue investing in spectrum, towers, backhaul, network optimisation and customer experience. The transition toward 5G will raise expectations further, even though Pakistan’s 5G deployment remains at an early stage.
5G Results Are Still Indicative
The benchmark also assessed 5G performance, but PTA cautioned that the results should not yet be treated as a conclusive nationwide measure. Coverage remains limited and the number of 5G users is still relatively small compared with the 4G base.
This caution is important. Early 5G tests can produce impressive speeds in selected locations, but nationwide user experience will depend on how quickly operators expand coverage, acquire spectrum and deploy compatible infrastructure.
For now, 4G remains the most relevant technology for the majority of Pakistani mobile users. That makes the latest 4G benchmarking particularly important for understanding the current competitive landscape.
Business and Technology Impact
Better mobile network performance has implications beyond consumers. Businesses increasingly depend on mobile connectivity for payments, logistics, field operations, cloud tools and customer communication. Faster and more reliable networks can improve productivity, particularly for small businesses that may rely on mobile broadband rather than fixed enterprise connections.
For Pakistan’s digital economy, stronger mobile networks can also support fintech, e-commerce, streaming, creator platforms and remote work. The quality gap between high-performing and lower-performing networks therefore has wider economic significance.
The report also highlights the importance of device capability. High-end smartphones recorded significantly higher average 4G speeds than the all-device average, showing that network investment and device upgrades work together in shaping user experience.
What Happens Next
The latest benchmark gives operators a clear snapshot of where they lead and where they lag. Zong will want to defend its national speed advantage, Jazz will aim to close a relatively small gap, Ufone can build on its gaming performance, and Telenor faces the clearest pressure to improve national speed results.
Future PTA benchmarking will be especially important as Pakistan’s 5G rollout expands. Once coverage and user numbers become large enough, comparisons between 4G and 5G experience will become more meaningful.
For consumers, the key lesson is simple: there is no single network that wins every category in every city. Zong leads national 4G download and upload experience in this benchmark, but Jazz, Ufone and other operators retain strengths in specific categories and locations.
FAQs
Which network has the fastest 4G download speed in Pakistan?
Zong recorded the fastest national 4G download speed in the latest benchmark at 18.55 Mbps.
Which network has the fastest 4G upload speed?
Zong also led national 4G upload speed at 7.81 Mbps.
Where did Jazz rank?
Jazz ranked second nationally in both 4G download and upload speed experience, at 17.61 Mbps and 6.26 Mbps respectively.
Which Pakistani network was best for gaming?
Ufone led the national games experience category with a score of 50.08.
Which network had the highest time on network?
Zong led with 96.59 percent, ahead of Jazz, Telenor and Ufone.
Does Zong lead in every Pakistani city?
No. City-level results vary. Jazz led some categories in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Karachi and Hyderabad, while Ufone led gaming in Karachi.
Are the 5G results final?
No. PTA cautioned that 5G deployment is still at an early stage, so current 5G measurements should be treated as indicative rather than conclusive nationwide results.
How was the benchmark measured?
The report used Opensignal measurements collected from real smartphone users over 90 days across Pakistan and 20 cities.
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