Pakistan’s Internet ranks among the worst in world: Report
Pakistan is one of the countries with the slowest internet speeds in the world, according to the “Internet Landscape Report 2022” published by Bytes for All, Pakistan, a leading digital rights organisation in the country.
According to the research, Pakistan continues to fare poorly in Asia, despite minor advancements in governance and internet availability.
As per the survey, 15% of the population lacks access to telecom and internet services, and those who do have access deal with poor speeds and inconsistent service.
According to a press release from Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index from December 2022, Pakistan’s average internet speed is 10.15 to 15.5 Mbps, and it ranks 118 out of 141 countries for mobile internet speed and 150 out of 178 for fixed broadband speed.
Despite higher internet usage, the report indicates that Pakistan must upgrade its digital infrastructure to give all of its citizen’s access to low-cost, dependable, high-speed internet.
In addition to limited access to important services like online education, healthcare, and other services, slow internet speed has also hampered Pakistan’s economic development.
The report also Raised Concerns regarding internet censorship and digital rights in Pakistan.
The report makes several recommendations to improve the current situation, including increasing investment in digital infrastructure, fostering competition in the market, creating a favourable regulatory environment for the telecom industry, and enhancing cybersecurity measures to guarantee a secure online environment for citizens.
Pakistan Ranks Last in 2022 Inclusive Internet Index by Meta and Economist Impact
Pakistan placed last among 22 Asian countries and 79th overall in the 2022 Inclusive Internet Index, which was created by Meta and carried out by Economist Impact.
This ranking was based on four main metrics: availability, affordability, relevance, and readiness.
Pakistan’s PTA Releases New ‘Fixed Broadband Quality of Service Regulations, 2022
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) updated the Broadband Quality of Service Regulations, 2014, and released new rules titled “Fixed Broadband Quality of Service (QoS) Regulations, 2022” this year.
Internet service providers (ISPs) must deliver the promised speeds at least 80% of the time under the amended laws, which raise the minimum internet speed requirement for downloads from 256 kbps to 4Mbps and 2Mbps upload.
The new legislation included improved Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for internet quality and speed, with a focus on net neutrality.
ISPs cannot reduce internet speeds, limit or postpone access to particular portions of the internet, or otherwise discriminate against users.
Pakistan’s Female Internet Access Ranks Low Despite Minor Gender Gap Reduction, Report Shows
Despite mentioning a minor reduction in the gender gap over time, the report highlighted Pakistan’s low ranking in terms of female internet access.
According to the report, Pakistan has the largest gender difference in mobile ownership among all of the countries surveyed, with barely 50% of women possessing one compared to more than 75% of men.
Also Read: WhatsApp Scam Alert: Beware Of International Calls
