Pakistan’s IT experts are urging the government to accelerate the rollout of 5G services to address slow Internet speeds and ongoing disruptions affecting millions. The country faced over 9,735 hours of outages in 2024, leading to economic losses of USD 1.62 billion. Industry leaders warn that continued disruptions jeopardize growth targets for the IT sector, while solutions such as increased fiber-optic connections and undersea cables are being proposed.
Pakistan’s IT experts are urging the government to expedite the implementation of 5G services to combat the ongoing issue of slow Internet speeds. Reports indicate that in 2024, the country experienced over 9,735 hours of Internet outages, significantly impacting 82.9 million users, primarily due to political instability. The economic ramifications of these disruptions are staggering, with losses totaling USD 1.62 billion, surpassing losses in conflict-afflicted countries like Sudan and Myanmar.
The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has raised alarms that the IT sector might encounter financial losses estimated at USD 150 million annually due to the inadequate Internet infrastructure and ongoing restrictions on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs). P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed emphasized that Pakistan incurs losses exceeding one million dollars each hour because of these shutdowns. He has called for immediate government action to facilitate the rollout of 5G services, which includes a spectrum auction set for March 2025, along with enhancements in fiber-optic connectivity and the installation of new undersea cables.
Despite recent growth in the IT industry—with exports reaching USD 3.2 billion in the 2023-24 fiscal year—frequent Internet disruptions pose a threat to achieving the ambitious target of USD 15 billion in exports for the current fiscal year. The President of the Pakistan Freelancers Association, Tufail Ahmed Khan, has highlighted the detrimental effects of slow Internet on freelancers, advocating for policies that favor Internet and VPN accessibility to foster increased foreign remittance inflows.
Former P@SHA Chairman Zohaib Khan has expressed concerns regarding the long-term damage to Pakistan’s international reputation due to ongoing Internet shutdowns. He stated, “Reports of Internet shutdowns are damaging Pakistan’s brand image on the global stage, which indirectly impacts the industry.” Moreover, he has encouraged freelancers to utilize co-working spaces during outages to minimize disruptions to their work achievements.
In response to connectivity issues, the Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has arranged for temporary bandwidth improvements following disruptions from a fault in the Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1) submarine cable. The PTA has plans to enhance connectivity further by joining the 2Africa submarine cable system later this year, aiming to improve overall Internet service performance in the country.
The discussion regarding the urgent need for enhanced Internet services in Pakistan is set against the backdrop of significant economic losses attributed to recurring Internet outages. The reliance of the IT and creative sectors on stable Internet connectivity amplifies the consequences of these disruptions, especially as the country endeavors to elevate its standing in the global digital economy. Calls for 5G rollout are the latest development in a continual push for infrastructure improvements to support Pakistan’s growing digital landscape and mitigate the adverse effects of political instabilities on efficient Internet access.
In summary, Pakistan’s IT sector is facing critical challenges due to slow Internet speeds and frequent disruptions, leading to staggering economic losses. Experts are calling for the government to accelerate the deployment of 5G technologies and improve infrastructure to support the burgeoning freelance economy and the overall growth of the IT industry. Urgent measures are necessary to ensure that Pakistan can achieve its export targets and enhance its international reputation amid growing concerns over connectivity and reliability.
Original Source: telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com
