Pakistan IT experts urge swift action on 5G rollout
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — Pakistan’s IT industry leaders are urging the government to accelerate the rollout of 5G services, citing slow internet speeds and frequent disruptions as significant barriers to economic growth.
According to global internet monitor Top10VPN.com, Pakistan suffered the highest economic losses worldwide due to internet outages in 2024, amounting to $1.62 billion. These disruptions spanned 9,735 hours and affected 82.9 million users, largely driven by political events such as protests and elections.
IT sector threats amid connectivity issues
The Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) has highlighted the severe financial risks posed by poor Internet infrastructure. “Pakistan suffers a loss of more than one million dollars per hour on account of Internet shutdowns,” said P@SHA Chairman Sajjad Mustafa Syed.
He called for urgent measures, including expediting the planned 5G spectrum auction in March 2025, expanding fiber-optic networks, and installing new undersea cables to improve connectivity.
Slow Internet speeds and restrictions on virtual private networks (VPNs) could cost the IT sector up to $150 million annually, threatening the government’s goal of achieving $15 billion in IT exports this fiscal year. Despite recording $3.2 billion in IT-related exports in 2023-24, experts warn that continued disruptions could derail this progress.
Freelancers and global reputation at risk
Freelancers in Pakistan are particularly affected by connectivity issues. Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) President Tufail Ahmed Khan urged the government to adopt more Internet- and VPN-friendly policies to support freelancers. He noted that improved infrastructure could boost foreign remittances and reduce reliance on government employment programs.
Former P@SHA Chairman Zohaib Khan expressed concern over the impact of Internet outages on Pakistan’s international reputation.
“Reports of Internet shutdowns are damaging Pakistan’s brand image on the global stage,” he said, urging freelancers to use co-working spaces during outages to minimize disruptions.
Government initiatives to enhance connectivity
The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) has implemented temporary measures to address connectivity issues, such as arranging additional bandwidth following a fault in the Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1) submarine cable. The PTA also plans to join the 2Africa submarine cable system later this year, which is expected to enhance Internet speeds and reliability significantly.
With mounting pressure from IT industry leaders, swift action on 5G deployment is seen as critical to mitigating economic losses and positioning Pakistan as a competitive player in the global digital economy.
