Pakistanis are increasingly relying on mobile connectivity, with average mobile data usage rising steadily. According to the State of Apps 2024 report by Data Darbar, citing Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) data, the typical Pakistani now consumes 8.4 gigabytes (GB) of mobile data per month.
This represents a 13.5% increase compared to last year, when average usage was 7.4 GB. In 2020, monthly consumption was only 4.9 GB, marking a 71% growth over four years. This surge shows that mobile internet access has become an essential utility, even during periods of economic uncertainty.
Total mobile data consumption in Pakistan reached 13,002 petabytes in FY24, a 20% increase from the previous year. Fixed broadband usage also rose 29% to 12,120 petabytes. The growth is attributed to higher smartphone adoption, expanded 4G coverage, and increased use of video streaming, social media, and remote work applications.
Broadband penetration climbed to 57%, supported by the shift from 2G and 3G networks to faster connections. Despite these gains, infrastructure challenges remain. Only 9% of mobile towers are linked to fiber networks, limiting high-speed access in some areas.
The cost of mobile data increased slightly to Rs. 26.6 per GB, a 4.3% rise from the previous year. The average monthly revenue per user (ARPU) also climbed to Rs. 276. Experts warn that affordability and infrastructure constraints could slow further growth.
Analysts say that sustained investment is essential to improve network speed, reliability, and coverage. Pakistan’s digital ecosystem continues to expand rapidly, but addressing infrastructure and cost challenges is crucial for continued growth.
The report underscores that mobile connectivity is now a key part of daily life in Pakistan, shaping communication, work, and entertainment habits nationwide.
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