The SIM that works in the most places in Gilgit-Baltistan is SCOM, the network built for the region. In the main towns (Gilgit, Aliabad, Karimabad and Skardu) Zong, Jazz and Telenor/Ufone also work, and Zong is the national network most visitors find dependable along the Karakoram Highway. The practical answer for most travellers is two SIMs: your usual one plus a SCOM SIM, bought in Gilgit or Skardu. Nothing works on most of Deosai, at the Khunjerab border or on the glacier treks.
This guide explains who runs which network, how coverage changes from valley to valley, how far to trust 4G, and the places and days when there is no signal at all.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Widest coverage | SCOM (numbers start 0355) |
| Good in the main towns | Zong, Jazz, Telenor/Ufone |
| Best plan | Two SIMs: your own network plus SCOM |
| Where to buy SCOM | Franchises in the main bazaars of Gilgit and Skardu |
| Needed to buy a SIM | Your CNIC and fingerprint verification; foreign nationals a passport and visa |
| No signal | Most of Deosai, the top of Khunjerab, the glacier treks, many high meadows |
| Planned shutdowns | Around Ashura, and at other times for security |
Who runs the networks in Gilgit-Baltistan?
SCOM is the mobile service of the Special Communications Organization, a state body set up in 1976 to provide telecoms in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. It had the region to itself until 2006, and it has built the most towers in the remote valleys. SCOM launched 3G and 4G in 2017, and in 2021 it switched on a 4G site at Concordia, near K2 base camp.
The national networks have held licences in Gilgit-Baltistan since 2006 and 2007. In the region's first 3G and 4G spectrum auction, in 2021, Zong, Telenor and Ufone won spectrum; Jazz did not, though it runs services in the region under its existing licence. Telenor Pakistan and Ufone merged into a single company, PTML, in July 2026, so expect their branding and coverage to change over the next year or two.
In the most recent official test, a Pakistan Telecommunication Authority survey for the second quarter of 2026, SCOM came first on coverage, download speed and call quality across the areas tested in Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan. The Gilgit-Baltistan areas were Astore, Gorikot and Rattu. At Rattu, SCOM was the only network with any 4G result, and Jazz fell short of the 4G coverage standard in Astore.
Coverage by valley
Coverage changes every year as towers go up, so treat this as a guide and ask at your hotel which network works best there.
| Place | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Gilgit city | All networks, with 4G across most of town |
| Aliabad and Karimabad | Good 4G on SCOM and Zong; the other networks work in the bazaars |
| Gulmit, Passu and Sost | SCOM most dependable; Zong often works, weaker further north |
| Khunjerab Pass | Patchy to none above the Dih checkpoint; nothing at the border |
| Nagar and Hopper | SCOM the safest bet |
| Skardu town | SCOM, Zong and Jazz with 4G in town |
| Shigar and Khaplu | Signal in the towns; SCOM holds on best between them |
| Deosai | None on most of the plateau; a little SCOM near the edges |
| Astore and Rama | SCOM clearly best; others weak |
| Fairy Meadows | Weak and intermittent at best; other networks usually drop out near Raikot Bridge |
| KKH through Kohistan and Diamer | Good near towns, gone in the gorges |
| K2 and Concordia | A SCOM 4G site at Concordia since 2021; don't rely on it |
The pattern is simple. Where people live in numbers, every network works. Where the valley narrows or climbs above the villages, the national networks drop away first and SCOM lasts longest. Above that, nobody has towers.
How reliable is 4G?
In Gilgit, Skardu and central Hunza, 4G is usually good enough for video calls, maps and uploading photos. Three things make it less dependable than at home:
- Crowds. On Eid and in the July and August holidays, data in the busiest places, such as Karimabad, Skardu and Attabad Lake, can slow noticeably in the evening.
- Power cuts. Towers run on batteries and generators when the grid is off, and in winter the grid can be off for most of the day. Signal can fade during long cuts.
- Weather and landslides. Storms and slides can cut fibre links and take a whole valley offline for hours.
Outside the towns, you will often drop to 3G or a voice-only signal. Send messages rather than relying on calls, and download anything you need while you have a good connection.
Where you will have no signal
Plan these as offline days and tell someone at home before you go:
- Deosai, for most of the crossing between Sadpara and Chilim. Our Deosai National Park guide covers the day.
- The last stretch to Khunjerab and the border itself. Agree a return time with anyone who stays behind; our Khunjerab Pass guide covers the day trip.
- Fairy Meadows and Beyal, where signal is weak at best. Confirm lodge bookings from Raikot Bridge or Chilas; our Fairy Meadows hotels guide explains how.
- Glacier and high treks: Hushe, Askole and beyond, Shimshal's high pastures, Rakaposhi base camp and similar.
- Long gorge sections of the KKH in Kohistan and on the Jaglot to Skardu road.
When the networks are switched off
Mobile service is sometimes suspended for security. Around Ashura it is routine: for 9 and 10 Muharram in 2025, the Gilgit-Baltistan tourism department warned that mobile service would be suspended on the 10th in many parts of the region, that main roads would close, and advised visitors not to travel on those two days. Check the date of Ashura when you plan, and expect similar arrangements every year.
Services can also be cut at short notice during protests or other security incidents. If your phone suddenly shows full bars but no data, this may be why; ask at your hotel before assuming it is your SIM.
How to buy a SCOM SIM
SCOM franchises sit in the main bazaars of Gilgit and Skardu. Buy the SIM in the first large town you reach, because village shops may sell top-ups but not new SIMs.
- Take your CNIC. Every SIM in Pakistan is registered with fingerprint verification, so the SIM must be bought by the person whose CNIC it goes on.
- Allow 15 to 30 minutes. Registration and activation can take a while in busy season.
- Buy a data bundle at the counter and check that it works before you leave the shop.
- Foreign nationals need their original passport with a valid visa. Requirements for foreigners change, so ask at a franchise in Gilgit or Skardu rather than at a village shop.
Keep your usual SIM in the phone as well. A dual-SIM phone lets you receive calls and bank messages on your own number while using SCOM data in the valleys.
Staying in touch when there is no signal
- Download offline maps of the whole region before you leave home.
- Share your plan for the day with someone at home or at your hotel, with a time to raise the alarm.
- Use hotel Wi-Fi in the evening, but don't count on it: it runs on the same towers and power as everything else.
- Save the Tourist Police number, 1422, which works from any phone inside Gilgit-Baltistan.
Overseas visitors should not rely on roaming: foreign SIMs generally do not roam usefully in Gilgit-Baltistan, so buy a local SIM. For the rest of what to bring, including power banks for long power cuts, see our packing guide and our travel guide.
Frequently asked questions
Which SIM is best for Hunza?
SCOM has the widest coverage in Hunza, especially in Gojal north of Attabad. Zong also works well in Karimabad and Aliabad. Carrying both covers almost everywhere that has signal.
Does Jazz work in Gilgit-Baltistan?
Yes, in Gilgit, Skardu and the larger towns. Its coverage thins out faster than SCOM's once you leave the main roads, so take a second SIM for the side valleys.
Is there signal on Deosai?
Not on most of the plateau. There can be a weak SCOM signal near the edges, but plan the crossing as a day without a phone.
Is there mobile signal at Fairy Meadows?
Weak and intermittent at best, and some days none. SCOM is the network most likely to work. Confirm bookings and plans before you leave Raikot Bridge.
Where can I buy a SCOM SIM?
At a SCOM franchise in the main bazaar of Gilgit or Skardu. Take your CNIC, because the SIM is registered with your fingerprints, and buy a data bundle before you leave the shop.
Does Zong work in Skardu?
Yes. Zong has 4G in Skardu town and works in much of the valley. SCOM is still the better choice for Shigar, Khaplu and the smaller villages.
