Since mobile sector contributes over 95 per cent to total teledensity of the country, an increase in mobile penetration from 60.4 per cent in 2010-11 to 64.9 percent this year so far, resulted in improvement of 4.3 percentage points in total teledensity, data available with APP revealed here on Thursday.

But Fixed Local Loop (FLL) teledensity has been declining over the year due to mobile substitution and now it stands at 1.93 per cent as compared to 2.1 per cent last year, showing a decrease of 0.17 per cent.

The data further showed that Wireless Local Loop (WLL) subscribers have been increasing but the proportionate rise in population keeps the teledensity of WLL services at 1.6 per cent over the last three consecutive years.

When contacted, an official source said cellular sector in the country faced a tough economic and business environment during last year due to taxes, power crisis, security situation, extensive subscriber and natural calamities.

He said despite all these factors, the cellular industry managed to double its growth rate from the previous fiscal year.

According to the World Economic Forum's Global Information Technology Report, Pakistan ranks number 1 in the Internet and telephone competition.

The official said total of mobile subscribers reaches 118.3 million at the end of March 2012.