Mobile signals in Neelum Valley get weaker the further you drive from Muzaffarabad. SCOM, the state-owned network built for Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, reaches furthest up the valley and is usually the only network working in the more remote towns. Jazz, Zong, Ufone and Telenor cover Muzaffarabad and the lower valley reliably, but thin out from around Keran onwards.
Before any of that: through 2026 the whole of Azad Kashmir has been affected, on and off, by mobile and internet shutdowns linked to political unrest. Check the current situation before you rely on this guide for anything more than general planning.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Best all-round coverage | SCOM |
| Reliable for all major networks | Muzaffarabad to Athmuqam |
| Patchy for most networks | Keran to Kel |
| SCOM often the only signal | Kel to Taobat |
| No signal at all | Arang Kel, Ratti Gali base camp and lake, most high-altitude lakes and treks |
| 2026 disruption | Mobile and internet services across AJK have been suspended for extended periods during 2026 unrest; check before you travel |
The current situation: mobile and internet in AJK
Since mid-2026, mobile phone and internet services across Azad Kashmir have been suspended repeatedly, for periods reported to add up to well over 100 days by mid-September, in response to ongoing political protests. This affects normal coverage everywhere in AJK, including Neelum Valley, regardless of which network you use. Our guide to whether Neelum Valley is safe right now covers the wider situation and what to check before you travel.
If a shutdown is in effect when you visit, none of the network-by-network detail below will apply. Ask locally in Muzaffarabad before you set off, and don't plan a trip that depends on being reachable by phone throughout.
Which network reaches where, in normal conditions
- Muzaffarabad to Athmuqam. All the major networks — Jazz, Zong, Ufone, Telenor and SCOM — work reliably here, including 4G data in the towns.
- Athmuqam to Keran. Coverage is still reasonably good for most networks, though it weakens between towns and on stretches where the road climbs away from the river.
- Keran to Sharda and Kel. This is where the gap opens up. SCOM was built specifically to serve remote valleys like this one and has the widest reach here; the other networks become patchy, working in the town centres but dropping out on the road between them.
- Kel to Taobat. Signal is thin and inconsistent even on SCOM, and can disappear for long stretches of the jeep track.
SCOM's advantage is that it was set up as the state carrier for exactly these hard-to-reach districts, so its towers cover places the commercial networks have not prioritised. That makes it the sensible backup SIM if you are travelling with a group, even if your main phone is on a different network for calls home.
Where there is no signal at all
Some of the valley's best-known stops have no coverage on any network:
- Arang Kel, the meadow village above Kel, as our Arang Kel guide notes.
- The Ratti Gali Lake base camp and the lake itself, as covered in our Ratti Gali Lake guide.
- Most of the side valleys and high-altitude treks, including Shounter, Chitta Katha and Saral, where you are well away from any tower.
Treat any walk or jeep trip off the main valley road as a zone with no signal, and plan accordingly.
Data and internet speed
Where a network reaches at all in the upper valley, expect 3G-level speeds at best rather than fast 4G, and don't rely on video calls or large uploads. Data is more reliable in Muzaffarabad, Athmuqam and Keran than further up. WhatsApp messages and basic browsing generally work where there is any signal; streaming and video calls often don't.
Staying reachable: practical tips
- Buy a local SIM in Muzaffarabad or Islamabad before you head up, since shops thin out beyond Athmuqam.
- Carry a SCOM SIM as backup if you are heading beyond Keran, alongside your usual network.
- Tell people your rough plan and expected return time before you go anywhere without signal, such as Arang Kel or a side valley.
- Don't rely on live navigation apps beyond Sharda; download offline maps in advance.
- Charge devices fully before a day trip, since there is nowhere reliable to charge them once you leave the main towns.
Should you rely on your phone here?
Not for anything important. Use it where it works, but plan the trip as though you will be unreachable for stretches at a time, particularly beyond Kel or on any side valley. That is normal for this part of Pakistan and not a sign that something has gone wrong.
Frequently asked questions
Which network works best in Neelum Valley?
SCOM has the widest reach, especially beyond Keran, because it was built specifically to serve remote parts of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. Jazz, Zong, Ufone and Telenor are reliable in Muzaffarabad and Athmuqam but weaker further up.
Is there mobile signal at Arang Kel or Ratti Gali Lake?
No. Neither has coverage on any network. Agree a return time with anyone not travelling with you before you go up.
Is internet currently working in Neelum Valley?
It depends on the day. Mobile and internet services across Azad Kashmir have been suspended repeatedly during 2026 due to political unrest, so check the current situation locally before you rely on it.
Should I buy a SIM before I travel to Neelum Valley?
Yes. Buy it in Islamabad or Muzaffarabad, since SIM shops become scarce beyond Athmuqam, and a SCOM SIM is worth having if you are going past Keran.
Does 4G work in Neelum Valley?
In Muzaffarabad and the lower valley towns, generally yes. Beyond Keran, expect slower data even where a signal is present, and no signal at all on most side valleys and treks.
