Despite repeated assurances of improved connectivity, residents of Islamabad’s newly developed Sectors I-14 and I-16 continue to experience unreliable mobile signals and inconsistent internet services.
In a recent session of the National Assembly, the Minister overseeing the Cabinet Division conceded that both sectors are still plagued by weak network coverage and signal issues. The government acknowledged that low population density and limited commercial appeal have discouraged telecom companies from investing in better infrastructure in these areas.
According to a written response submitted by the government, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) reported that nine dedicated mobile towers have been deployed across Sectors I-14 and I-16. Over the past two years, a few additional towers were either installed or upgraded. Specifically, Sector I-14 saw the addition of two new towers and the upgrade of one existing site, while Sector I-16 had two new towers installed.
While the PTA claimed that an independent survey showed notable improvements in network performance after these enhancements, the same report also highlighted continuing problems. At least one tower in the area was found to have downtime exceeding acceptable limits, and voice call quality remains unreliable. Although average internet speeds surpassed the minimum 4 Mbps benchmark, users in both sectors still face frequent call drops and data disruptions.
The PTA has forwarded the issue to the relevant mobile network operator for further action, but there has been no concrete timeline provided for resolution.
In an unusually candid admission, the Cabinet Division stated that the lack of population and low revenue potential make these sectors a low priority for telecom companies, leaving residents with no immediate hope for service improvements.