A global report published by OpenSignal has stated Pakistan as having an overall average connectivity of 3G and 4G networks at 3.33Mbps, with a network availability 63.47 per cent.

— Courtesy: OpenSignal
— Courtesy: OpenSignal

In the report, OpenSignal, a wireless network mapping company, outlines the mobile data performance of 95 different countries, including Pakistan.

Titled 'Global State of Mobile Networks', the report ranks the countries in four different categories; availability of 3G and 4G networks, overall speed provided, speed vs. availability and time spent connected to WiFi.

Read: Mobile internet helps India’s tech ventures live up to years of hype

Overall speed

Defined as the average mobile data connection available to a user, this category measured the overall speed experienced over networks.

South Korea came in at the top with an overall speed of 41.34 Mbps. In comparison, Pakistan clocked in just below Togo with an overall speed of 3.33Mbps.

Availability of mobile networks

The criteria for this category was to see what percentage of the time users could connect to a 3G signal or better. According to the report, "A 3G or better signal is a useful benchmark since consumers can accomplish most basic smartphone tasks on a 3G connection."

Read: Govt to introduce new telecom policy with focus on latest trends, services

Once again South Korea stands at the top with a network availability of 98.54pc, with Japan coming in second at 95.52pc and Israel coming in third at 95.23pc.

Pakistan, however ranked relatively lower on the index, with a network availability metric of 63.47pc, as compared to Bangladesh with a network availability of 68.71pc.

Speed vs. availability

In an index where speed was plotted against availability, Pakistan was a part of those countries still in the early stages of their LTE developments and completion of 3G network coverage. Countries such as India, Iran and Nepal were also also included in this group.

Time spent on WiFi

In an index which measured user preference of WiFi over mobile data, Netherlands was the clear winner at 70.05pc, with China coming in second at 63.16pc. Pakistan, on the other hand, came in at 34.12pc, with Ethiopia being the last.

Read: Could Pakistan’s ‘Aasan Internet’ be the key to connecting a billion worldwide users?

OpenSignal, thanks to the inclusion of the metrics stated above, has been able to publish this report due to this new data collection methodology. According to their report they, "examined 12.3 billion measurements taken by 822,556 OpenSignal users in an 84 day period".

This new report marks a significant milestone as previous ones only took 4G into account, a service that has not yet been launched in most countries.

Opinion

Editorial

Ultimate price
Updated 02 Nov, 2024

Ultimate price

To dismantle culture of impunity for crimes against journalists, state must ensure that perpetrators do not go unpunished.
Mastung bombing
02 Nov, 2024

Mastung bombing

INSTABILITY continues to haunt Balochistan, as Friday morning’s bombing in Mastung has shown. At least nine...
Plane speak
02 Nov, 2024

Plane speak

DESPITE all its efforts to facilitate PIA’s privatisation, it seems the government only ended up being taken for a...
Seeking investment
Updated 01 Nov, 2024

Seeking investment

Foreign visits will be fruitless unless crucial structural, policy reforms directly affecting investors are focused.
State-backed terror
01 Nov, 2024

State-backed terror

OVER the past year or so, India’s reportedly malign activities in foreign countries have increasingly come under the radar, with
Shared crisis
01 Nov, 2024

Shared crisis

WITH Lahore experiencing unprecedented levels of smog, the Punjab government has announced a series of “green...