Internet speed is once again a major challenge during peak hours across the country due to backend issues on two undersea cable routes and data traffic congestion on the remaining submarine cables connecting Pakistan to the international network.
Industry sources told ProPakistani that internet services have been comparatively slow on the networks of internet service providers (ISPs) and mobile operators from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. daily. The slowdown has affected individuals and businesses, particularly those dealing with foreign clients in the United States and European markets.
Customers continue to face inconvenience and business losses as multiple services become difficult to access, including live streaming, gaming, video conferencing, video-sharing, large downloads, banking transactions, and other high-bandwidth applications. The recent internet slowdown has dealt a direct and severe blow to Pakistan’s emerging call center industry.
Nabeel Akhtar, Senior Vice President of the Call Center Association of Pakistan (CCAP), said:
Every hour of internet downtime costs millions of dollars in compounded revenue loss and raises the risk of contract terminations with foreign clients.
He added that while call centers can cope with power outages through various backup options, there are no alternative systems when it comes to internet infrastructure, nor can such systems be independently created.
Akhtar emphasized:
We urge the government to compel internet service providers to invest immediately in more resilient and robust digital infrastructure to meet the growing needs of the call center industry, thereby securing a vital source of foreign revenue for Pakistan.
Abid Beli, owner of a co-working space, said that slow internet speeds continue to affect operations and service quality at co-working stations, primarily impacting freelancers and small businesses. He added that co-working facilities have had to make additional investments in switches and specialized software solutions to maintain internet performance for their clients.
“The government should introduce satellite internet services in Pakistan to avoid undersea cable disruptions and meet the country’s growing demand for high-speed connectivity,” he suggested.
Shahzad Arshad, Chairman of the Wireless & Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan, said that Pakistan’s undersea cables handling data traffic have suffered multiple technical faults, one after another.
He explained:
Recently, there have been both physical failures, such as cable cuts and repeater faults, as well as planned repair and maintenance activities on major Asia–Europe routes (for example, SMW4 and IMEWE). Additionally, geopolitical and security risks in chokepoints like the Red Sea have further complicated operations and repair efforts.
He further stated that, in addition to international issues, local challenges must also be addressed to improve internet services and meet the country’s growing digital demand.
According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), there are over 152 million broadband subscribers in Pakistan, and a significant majority are active internet users.
