Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Wednesday addressed concerns regarding the ongoing slow internet across the country, attributing it to a “faulty submarine cable” rather than the installation of firewalls.
PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman informed the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT that the submarine consortium had reported the issue, assuring that it would be resolved by August 27.
Rehman explained that Pakistan is connected by seven fiber optic cables, one of which is currently damaged, leading to the noticeable decline in internet speeds.
Over the past few weeks, users have experienced difficulties in sending or downloading media and voice notes through WhatsApp on mobile data, as well as slow browsing speeds even on broadband connections.
The recent slowdown has sparked widespread criticism from lawmakers and the public. The business community and internet service providers (ISPs) had previously alleged that the government’s efforts to monitor internet traffic, including a rumored ‘firewall,’ were responsible for the reduced digital services, leading to significant economic losses.
However, the PTA’s clarification highlights that the current issues are solely due to the submarine cable fault, with no firewalls being implemented.
