ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is currently experiencing severe slowdowns in cellular internet, causing widespread disruptions across the country. The internet industry is reportedly losing $50 million daily, with IT exports alone suffering a loss of around $13 million each day, highlighting the significant impact on the technology sector.
There are reports that the recent installation of a firewall might be contributing to these issues, though the Ministry of Information Technology has not yet provided a definitive explanation.
Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima stated that the ministry has requested data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to assess the impact on data traffic over the past two weeks. “We will be in a position to say something as soon as the data comes in,” she noted.
In the midst of uncertainty, officials from the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) have suggested that a solar storm could be influencing the internet disruptions. Dr. Roshnan Nadeem, a PhD scholar at Suparco, explained that solar activities have interfered with radio frequencies and caused temporary blackouts with satellites, potentially worsening cellular network and GPS connectivity.
IT experts also point to outdated infrastructure as a contributing factor. Parvez Iftikhar, a telecom affairs specialist, mentioned that most internet access in Pakistan is via mobile phones, which relies on mobile spectrum. He highlighted that Pakistan’s mobile spectrum is among the lowest in the region, and the country’s fiber-optic network is underdeveloped, leading to poor internet speeds.
The slowdown has had a cascading effect on online businesses. Freelancers on platforms like Fiverr and Amazon are facing fewer client orders, and businesses are struggling with tasks like data searching, downloading, and general communication. Many entrepreneurs report that they now have to work longer hours to compensate for the slow internet, while students are finding it difficult to create and access notes.
“Where we used to work for five to six hours, now we have to work for 10 hours,” said an online business owner. Another frustrated entrepreneur shared, “I’ve been trying to send a few documents and a small video to the office, but it’s been half an hour with no progress. The slow internet is killing my productivity, and the administrative hurdles are adding to the frustration.”
An IT professional remarked that foreign clients are losing trust in Pakistani businesses due to these issues. As the situation drags on, businesses and individuals alike are bracing for prolonged disruptions and potential economic losses.
IT professionals are calling for immediate solutions to address the ongoing issues and safeguard the country’s digital economy.
I am an experienced writer, analyst, and author. My exposure in English journalism spans more than 28 years. In the past, I have been working with daily The Muslim (Lahore Bureau), daily Business Recorder (Lahore/Islamabad Bureaus), Daily Times, Islamabad, daily The Nation (Lahore and Karachi). With daily The Nation, I have served as Resident Editor, Karachi. Since 2009, I have been working as a Freelance Writer/Editor for American organizations.
