Internet users were alerted by Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) on Tuesday that maintenance on the nation’s underwater communication network could cause connectivity to lag or experience brief disruptions for up to eighteen hours. Following the completion of the maintenance, PTCL reports that activities on the impacted cable segment are now fully operational again. Internet speed and nationwide connectivity have been restored. However, officials and consumers complained that internet services in Karachi are still performing slowly even after repairs were completed, and that users are still having trouble uploading and downloading content on different social media sites.
In the meantime, a significant step toward increasing internet connectivity nationwide has been taken with the announcement by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) of plans to provide licenses for Fixed Satellite Services (FSS). The goal of this program is to entice international businesses, such as Shanghai SpaceCom and Starlink, to offer satellite-based internet services in Pakistan, improving connection in underserved and distant areas. The PTA’s proposal permits licensed operators to set up Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs) and ground-based gateway stations. Each license will cost USD 500,000, have a 15-year expiration date, and require service deployment to start within 18 months following approval.
