Internet speed normalises worldwide, remains slow in Pakistan

An undersea cable cut last week disrupted internet service globally, bringing speeds down across the world, but got resolved within two days. Despite the restoration of online communication worldwide, internet speed in Pakistan is still slow.

Experts attribute the slow internet to technical reasons.

According to Samaa News, telecom expert Pervaiz Iftikhar explains that internet access via mobile devices relies on spectrum, and Pakistan has the lowest spectrum availability in the region. Additionally, the penetration of optical fiber is very low, which affects internet speed.

It has also been noted that cable quality, digital traffic growth, and climate change impact internet service, but there are also rumors that the internet may be slowing down due to a firewall.

Cyber expert Ammar Jafari points out that while firewalls are necessary for securing systems, every country has the right to protect its own networks to prevent the spread of harmful content or other problems.

Others, however, argue that slow internet speeds are detrimental to the country’s economy. Officials from the IT Ministry have requested an explanation from PTA to determine the cause of the slow internet, as only the regulator can provide the full truth.