Experts in Pakistan are urging the government to accelerate the rollout of 5G to address extensive Internet disruptions affecting millions. With significant economic losses reported due to outages, stakeholders highlight the urgent need for modern infrastructure improvements, including fiber-optic expansions and better policies for freelancers.
Pakistan’s Information Technology (IT) experts have strongly urged the government to expedite the rollout of 5G services to combat the persistent issues of slow Internet speeds and disruptions. A recent report highlighted that there were 9,735 hours of Internet outages, affecting approximately 82.9 million users. These disruptions, primarily linked to political events, have resulted in significant economic ramifications, with the country experiencing the steepest losses globally in 2024 due to Internet outages, totaling approximately USD 1.62 billion.
The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has expressed concerns that ongoing slow Internet speeds could result in annual losses of up to USD 150 million for the IT sector. P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed emphasized the urgency of action, noting that the country incurs losses exceeding one million dollars per hour due to Internet shutdowns. He advocated for accelerated 5G development through a scheduled spectrum auction in March 2025, alongside investment in fiber-optic infrastructure.
Positive growth has been reported in Pakistan’s IT industry, with exports reportedly reaching USD 3.2 billion for the fiscal year 2023-24. However, persistent disruptions risk undermining governmental targets set at USD 15 billion in IT exports for the current fiscal year. Further emphasizing the gravity of the situation, Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) President Tufail Ahmed Khan urged the government to adopt clearer and more supportive policies for Internet usage and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), thereby enhancing foreign remittances from the freelance sector.
In addressing the impacts of Internet outages, former P@SHA chairman Zohaib Khan highlighted concerns regarding Pakistan’s international reputation, suggesting that reports of shutdowns tarnish the nation’s global image. He recommended that freelancers utilize co-working spaces to mitigate work disruptions caused by outages. The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) is attempting to resolve current issues by arranging temporary bandwidth to mitigate disruptions caused by faults in the Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1) submarine cable and is also planning to enhance connectivity through the 2Africa submarine cable system later this year.
The topic of Internet connectivity and the rollout of 5G services in Pakistan arises amidst broader concerns regarding economic losses caused by Internet disruptions. As political events often trigger outages, the cumulative effect on users is significant, with millions affected. Consequently, the IT sector faces severe financial constraints, heightening the urgency for modern infrastructure solutions that can address these limitations and boost Pakistan’s economic indicators, particularly in the IT export domain that is vital for the country’s economic health.
In conclusion, the urgency for expediting the rollout of 5G services in Pakistan cannot be overstated. As the nation grapples with considerable economic losses and disruptions from slow Internet speeds, experts are advocating for immediate governmental actions to modernize infrastructure and policies. By addressing these issues proactively, Pakistan can mitigate current economic losses and promote robust growth in its IT sector, thereby enhancing its global standing and attracting further foreign remittances.
Original Source: telecom.economictimes.indiatimes.com
