ISLAMABAD: The Telecom Operators Association has called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to address ongoing internet disruptions that could potentially cost the national economy billions. This appeal comes as significant drops in internet speeds and disruptions to social media platforms like Facebook and WhatsApp have been reported across Pakistan.
In recent weeks, internet users have faced severe connectivity issues, with accusations that the government is deliberately slowing down digital services due to the installation of a new firewall. The government has attributed these problems to VPN usage and faults in submarine cables.
Internet expert Doug Madory confirmed the cable fault, noting that Pakistan’s reduced internet capacity is linked to a fault in the SMW-4 submarine cable, which has caused significant service disruptions. Despite this, the extent and duration of the disruptions, particularly with social media applications, are unprecedented.
The Telecom Operators Association warned that the internet slowdown could lead to losses of up to Rs12 billion annually. They highlighted that daily internet traffic has decreased by approximately 6,400 terabytes, which could also result in a revenue loss exceeding Rs3 billion for the telecom sector. The letter to the Prime Minister stressed the adverse effects on foreign direct investment, the IT industry, and overall GDP.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has attributed the internet issues to faults in two of Pakistan’s seven international submarine cables—the AAE-1 cable and the SMW-4 cable. The PTA assured that efforts are underway to reroute traffic and repair the faults.
During a Senate Standing Committee on IT meeting, the absence of the IT Minister and the PTA Chairman was noted, and the meeting was postponed due to their non-participation. The committee also addressed the ban on ‘X’ (formerly Twitter) and discussed the performance of the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and other IT-related issues.
The session revealed that while Pakistan’s IT exports are growing, the country’s share of the global IT market remains minimal. Additionally, concerns were raised about the contractual appointment of the IT ministry’s secretary instead of selecting from the federal service pool. The next meeting will focus on these unresolved issues and the performance of long-distance and international (LDI) operators.
