A new undersea internet cable, capable of delivering 24 terabytes of bandwidth, is under installation and expected to significantly enhance internet speed and reliability across Pakistan. Media reports suggest that the 45,000-kilometer cable is being installed by a French company and will supplement the existing seven cables, which currently provide 8 terabytes of bandwidth. The cable will connect Pakistan with the African region, addressing long-standing complaints about slow internet speeds.
Read More: Internet Issues Could Take Three Months to Resolve: P@SHA
Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed said the cable is not yet operational but will likely be active next year. Syed also revealed that four additional major internet lines are in the pipeline, including infrastructure to support 5G. It will address bandwidth congestion and improve fibre connectivity for mobile towers. “These projects, expected to double capacity next year, will ensure Pakistan’s internet infrastructure meets demands for the next two to five years,” he added.
According to P@SHA chairman, Pakistan’s IT sector was incurring losses of over one million dollars per hour due to frequent internet shutdowns. He explained that for every dollar the government invests in market access, a return of $49 is generated.
On Sunday, Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Division Syed Sajid Mehdi advised Pakistanis to limit their internet usage to “important matters only,” Speaking on a television program, Mehdi likened internet congestion to traffic jams, attributing slow speeds to overuse and the country’s limited fibre-optic capacity.
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