PTA releases new report on monthly internet data use in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: As internet usage continues to surge globally, Pakistani users are witnessing a similar trend. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has released a comprehensive report titled “State of Mobile 2024,” revealing that the average monthly internet data usage per individual in Pakistan has reached 8.4 GB.

According to the report, this marks a 13.5 per cent increase in average monthly data usage compared to the previous year. Over a span of four years, the growth is even more striking–a 71 per cent increase from 4.9 GB in 2020 to 8.4 GB in 2024.

This upward trend reflects the Pakistan’s growing digital engagement, even as the country continues to face economic challenges.

The report further revealed that during Fiscal Year 2024-25 (FY2024-25), total mobile data usage reached 13,002 petabytes, a 20 per cent rise from the previous year. Similarly, fixed broadband usage grew by 29 per cent, totaling 12,120 petabytes.

This growth has been driven by several factors, which also include improved 4G coverage, increased smartphone adoption, rising popularity of video streaming, social media and remote work applications.

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The report also noted an increase in broadband penetration, which now stands at 57 per cent. While this is a positive sign, the PTA emphasized the need for infrastructure improvements, as a limited percentage of mobile users are currently connected to fiber networks –a key requirement for high-speed and stable connectivity.

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Additionally, the average cost of mobile data per GB was Rs26.6 in FY2024, reflecting a 4.3 per cent increase from the previous year. Meanwhile, the Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) for mobile services rose to Rs276 per month.