Zong, Pakistan’s leading information services and technology innovation company, has entered into a strategic partnership with Samsung to unveil the highly anticipated Galaxy S26 Series, aimed at expanding inclusive access to next-generation 5G-ready devices for customers across Pakistan.

The partnership brings exclusive perks for Zong customers including prebooking opportunities, bundled offers, and a trade-in program for Samsung handsets at selected Zong Customer Service Centers (CSCs) nationwide. This collaboration aims to accelerate 5G-ready device penetration in Pakistan and strengthen the country’s premium smartphone ecosystem. By integrating Samsung’s latest flagship technology with Zong’s nationwide digital and retail infrastructure, both companies aim to enhance accessibility and next-generation digital experiences for customers across Pakistan.

Speaking at the Zong x Samsung Management Connect, Sajid Munir, Head of Marketing at Zong, said: “This partnership represents a major step in Zong’s strategic direction to accelerate Pakistan’s digital transformation. With 5G on the horizon and smartphone penetration still evolving, it is critical to ensure that advanced technology is both accessible and affordable. By bringing Samsung’s latest 5G-ready devices to our nationwide retail and digital platforms, along with exclusive bundles, prebooking opportunities, and structured trade-in programs, we are empowering more Pakistanis to participate in the digital economy, fostering innovation, and unlocking new possibilities for next-generation connectivity and engagement.”

As part of the initiative, Samsung Shop-in-Shop experience zones have been deployed at selected Zong CSCs, starting with Islamabad, creating immersive touchpoints where customers can interact with the latest Samsung flagship devices through physical demos, assisted purchase journeys, and on-ground brand engagement, redefining device retail within telecom touchpoints. In addition, Zong CSCs will introduce a first-ever operational trade-in mechanism in Pakistan for Samsung handsets, enabling customers to seamlessly upgrade to the Galaxy S26 Series while enhancing affordability and convenience. The collaboration also extends to digital channels, with Samsung handsets integrated on the My Zong App (MZA), allowing customers to browse, prebook, and engage with the Galaxy S26 Series through a streamlined and seamless online journey, with nationwide availability aligned to the February 2026 launch window.

Zong is shaping a future-ready digital ecosystem in Pakistan, delivering advanced technology and 5G-ready experiences to customers across the country. Initiatives like this are helping build an accessible, intelligent, and innovative ecosystem, paving the way for the next era of connectivity, growth, and technological advancement nationwide.

Pakistan’s major cellular mobile operators delivered mixed results across services and cities in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to a new benchmarking report released by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) in collaboration with Opensignal.

The report is based on more than 1.25 billion measurements collected from real smartphone users across 161 districts over a 90-day period. It evaluated five key user experience metrics: download speed, upload speed, video experience, games experience, and time on network.

Download/Upload Speed Winner

At the national level, Telenor ranked first for both download and upload speeds, while ZONG 4G led in the games experience category. Ufone remained in fourth place across all national metrics.

The national average download speed across all devices was 18.60 Mbps, increasing to 30.80 Mbps on high-end devices. Average upload speed stood at 5.59 Mbps. The average video experience score was 44.44 out of 100, while games experience averaged 40.26. Users were connected to mobile networks 93.64 percent of the time on average.

Even Performance Between Cities

City-level analysis across ten major metropolitan areas showed no single operator dominating nationwide. ZONG 4G led in download speeds in Lahore, Karachi, Multan, Hyderabad, and Gujranwala, while Telenor topped the rankings in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Quetta, and Faisalabad. Multan recorded the highest city-level download speed at 20.63 Mbps under ZONG 4G.

ZONG 4G also performed strongly in upload speeds, ranking first in six cities, and secured the top spot in video experience in three cities. However, Telenor remained the strongest in video experience overall, leading in seven cities.

Gaming Performance Winner

In the game’s experience, ZONG 4G led in all ten cities, recording its highest score of 51.41 in Karachi. Ufone consistently ranked fourth in every city across all experience categories.

For network availability, measured as time on network, ZONG 4G led in five cities, with availability exceeding 95 percent in several locations and reaching a peak of 97.23 percent in Karachi. Telenor led in three cities, while Ufone ranked first in two.

PTA noted that Opensignal’s methodology is based on real-world user experience rather than controlled network tests, reflecting actual conditions faced by consumers while using everyday mobile applications.