Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has prohibited telecom companies from increasing the prices of mobile packages on a monthly basis.
PTA has formally notified telecom operators that any revision in mobile package prices can now only be made on a quarterly basis.
Officials explained that previously companies were raising package rates every month. Going forward, telecom firms will be permitted to increase prices by 10 to 20 percent compared to the rates of the previous year.
The decision follows numerous complaints received by PTA from consumers regarding frequent price hikes.
In response, the authority has enforced the Mobile Tariff Regulations 2025 to introduce a more organized and balanced tariff system.
According to officials, telecom companies are now required to obtain prior approval from PTA before launching any new packages.
They must also seek PTA’s permission for any increase in existing rates.
PTA authorities emphasized that while protecting consumer interests remains a priority, the regulator is equally focused on ensuring stability in the telecom market.
They noted that Pakistan currently has one of the lowest Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) figures in the region. Over the past few years, however, ARPU has seen some improvement.
They added that the launch of 5G services is expected to further enhance ARPU.
The upcoming spectrum auction is anticipated to bring significant improvements in nationwide coverage, network performance, and data speeds across the country.
