Pakistan’s internet services have been facing significant slowdowns, causing widespread public frustration and economic concerns. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has now attributed these disruptions to a faulty submarine cable, dispelling rumors that the government was intentionally throttling the internet.
Slow Internet Causes Public and Political Backlash
Over the past few weeks, internet users across Pakistan have experienced noticeably slower speeds, particularly when using mobile data and broadband services. Complaints have been mounting about difficulties in sending or downloading media through popular platforms like WhatsApp, with business communities and internet service providers (ISPs) alleging that government efforts to monitor internet traffic, including the implementation of a so-called "firewall,” were to blame.
These suspicions gained traction, especially after IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja confirmed that the government was upgrading its "web management system” to enhance cybersecurity. However, she vehemently denied any intentional throttling of the internet, a stance that was reiterated by PTA Chairman Retired Major General Hafeezur Rehman during a recent meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on IT.
The Cause: Faulty Submarine Cable
In a bid to clarify the situation, PTA Chairman Rehman explained that the internet slowdown was primarily due to a damaged submarine cable, expected to be repaired by August 28. He emphasized that the slow internet was not related to any upgrade of the government’s web management system, as had been speculated.
"The internet slowdown in the country is due to a faulty submarine cable, which is expected to be repaired by August 28,” Rehman stated. He also pointed out that the telecom sector had suffered a loss of approximately Rs 300 million due to the ongoing issues.
Lawmakers Demand Answers
During the meeting, Rehman faced tough questions from lawmakers, who expressed frustration over the internet issues. PPP Senator Sharmila Farooqi directly asked whether a firewall had been installed, to which Rehman responded that the PTA had no role in the slowdown, reiterating that the issue was purely technical.
Senator Mustafa Kamal of the MQM highlighted the economic impact of the internet issues, noting that companies had been instructed not to conduct business in Pakistan due to the unreliable internet services. The committee also discussed the prolonged ban on social media platform X, with PTI’s Barrister Gohar Ali Khan questioning the reasons behind its extended suspension.
Lahore High Court Rejects Government’s Response
Meanwhile, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has rejected the federal government’s response to the internet slowdowns, demanding a more detailed, clause-wise explanation in the next hearing. The court was informed by the PTA’s lawyer that the internet speed had decreased due to a combination of factors, including the damaged submarine cable, mishandling by an ISP, a cyber attack on August 15, and the increased use of VPNs.
Justice Shakil Ahmad, presiding over the case, dismissed the government’s initial response, directing them to submit a more comprehensive explanation in the next hearing, scheduled for August 27. He also instructed the petitioner to amend their plea accordingly.
The PTA’s Four Reasons for Internet Issues
In its detailed response to the LHC, the PTA outlined four key reasons for the slow internet:
- Damaged Submarine Cable (SMW4): The cutting of the submarine cable has reduced the country’s inland capacity by 1.5 terabits per second.
- ISP Misconfiguration: A major ISP’s severe misconfiguration led to a 70% dip in internet services, resulting in the firing of three senior technical managers.
- Cyber Attack on August 15: The PTA suspects a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack linked to Indian state actors on India’s National Day, which severely degraded internet traffic entering Pakistan.
- Increased Use of VPNs: The use of VPNs during this period has slowed internet speeds due to encryption and long routing of data packets.
Future Prospects: 5G Services by March?
Amid these ongoing issues, Amin ul Haq, Chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on IT, urged the government to ensure the availability of 5G services in Pakistan by March 2024. Despite significant efforts, Pakistan has yet to introduce 5G technology, while other countries are already moving towards 6G. Haq expressed frustration over the delays, stressing the importance of meeting public expectations for advanced digital infrastructure.
As Pakistan grapples with these internet challenges, the PTA and the federal government are under increasing pressure to resolve the technical issues and restore normalcy to the country’s digital services. With repairs to the submarine cable expected to be completed by August 28, users and businesses alike are hoping for a swift resolution.
