Mobile tariffs up 22% over past year, PTA rejects claims of monthly increases
Mobile operators have increased tariffs by up to 22 percent over the past year, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has admitted, while rejecting claims that telecom companies have been raising prices by 10-20 percent every month. Official documents noted that PTA’s analysis of subscriber-wise top ten packages offered by Jazz, Telenor, Zong and Ufone showed an average tariff increase…
Over the past year, mobile operators in Pakistan have raised tariffs by up to 22 percent, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). However, the regulator has firmly denied claims that telecom companies have been increasing prices by 10-20 percent each month. According to PTA's examination of the top ten packages offered by major operators like Jazz, Telenor, Zong, and Ufone, the average tariff increase during this period ranged from 12 percent to 22 percent.
The PTA clarified that the annual hike translates to a modest monthly increase of around 1-2 percent. There is no evidence to suggest operators are raising prices by 10-20 percent on a monthly basis. This admission comes as consumers express growing concerns over frequent tariff hikes that hike the costs of calls, data, and other mobile services.
While Jazz, classified as a Significant Market Power (SMP) operator, is subject to regulatory oversight of its tariffs, Zong, being a non-SMP operator, can adjust its rates at its discretion. The PTA's regulatory powers allow it to intervene in tariff structures if they negatively impact consumer interests under the Mobile Tariff Regulations of 2025.
The authority's mandate is to protect consumers while ensuring telecom operators make a reasonable return on their investments. PTA routinely approves tariffs for the SMP operator Jazz after weighing consumer interests, inflation, economic conditions, and market competition. To safeguard consumers, the regulator conducts anonymous billing verification exercises to ensure tariffs align with approved rates.
If consumers encounter tariff-related issues or discrepancies in billing, they can lodge complaints through the PTA's Complaint Management System (CMS) available on the authority's website, the CMS app, or by contacting the helpline. The PTA investigates such complaints using the legal framework for redressal.
The clarification underscores that while mobile tariffs have surged considerably over the past year, with some operators seeing increases of 22 percent, the PTA does not consider these hikes equivalent to the higher 10-20 percent monthly increases being alleged. In an era where mobile connectivity is essential for households, businesses, and digital users, frequent price revisions are becoming a significant consumer concern.
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