Govt Confirms Poor Network Coverage in Islamabad’s New Sectors

Despite being marketed as part of Islamabad’s “modern expansion,” residents of the capital’s new sectors continue to struggle with weak mobile signals and unreliable internet connections. The government has now officially acknowledged that network coverage in these areas remains far below acceptable standards — confirming what frustrated residents have been saying for years.

According to recent reports, sectors including I-14, I-16, G-13, and parts of D-12 experience frequent call drops, slow data speeds, and poor indoor signals. Despite repeated complaints to telecom operators and authorities, the problems persist with little visible improvement.

“Even making a simple phone call is a struggle here,” said Arif Malik, a resident of I-14. “Our area was supposed to represent modern Islamabad, but we can’t even get stable 4G inside our homes.”

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has admitted that it continues to receive numerous complaints about weak coverage in these newly developed zones. While several mobile operators have installed towers and upgraded their networks in the last two years, indoor connectivity remains poor due to terrain, dense housing, and infrastructure limitations.

“Operators have made upgrades, but coverage challenges persist because of population spread and site restrictions,” said a PTA spokesperson. “We’re working closely with telecom companies to improve service quality.”

Reports reveal that nine new mobile base stations were set up in I-14 and I-16, with additional upgrades in surrounding areas. However, telecom providers have been slow to expand large-scale infrastructure, citing limited returns from areas that are still developing commercially.

“Telecom operators don’t see quick profits here,” said digital analyst Saad Rehman. “But connectivity is a public need — the government must treat it as a utility, not just a business.”

“We pay the same bills as people in F-8 or Blue Area, but our service is far worse,” said Sana Yousaf, a student living in G-13. “It’s frustrating that newer sectors were developed without strong telecom and transport networks.”

As a short-term measure, the PTA has suggested using signal repeaters or relying on Wi-Fi offloading for better indoor coverage. However, residents say these are temporary fixes that don’t solve the real problem.

The government has now promised tighter oversight of telecom companies and faster approval processes for new tower sites. Officials are also considering shared tower infrastructure and policy reforms to accelerate coverage expansion in under-served areas.

Until those measures take effect, Islamabad’s newest sectors will remain connected to the capital in name — but disconnected in reality.