ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly (NA) was informed on Wednesday that the government is set to introduce four new infrastructure cables and 5G services to provide fast and reliable internet to users across the country.
Sabheen Ghoury, the parliamentary secretary for Information Technology and Telecommunication, stated in the NA that 5G services would be launched by mid-2025, with an expansion of optical fibre cables underway to improve internet services.
In response to questions during the Question Hour, she outlined key advancements in Pakistan’s telecom sector, focusing on enhanced international connectivity and the expansion of the fibre optic network. She reported that the activated capacity on international submarine cables currently stands at 9.281 Tbps, which meets current demand but will need expansion to support 5G implementation.
To bolster connectivity and network resilience, new submarine cables are being deployed, with 75,967 km of Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) already laid by Long-Distance and International (LDI) operators. The total length of the network is expected to reach 135,506 km, with efforts ongoing to resolve Right of Way (RoW) issues to facilitate further expansion. Additionally, efforts are being made to enhance broadband reliability through the Fibre to the Home (FTTH) expansion, which is expected to reach 3.6 million users.
Pakistan’s internet services remain generally stable, though occasional slowdowns occur due to factors like VPN overuse, DDoS attacks, and infrastructure issues. The PTCL submarine cable (AAE-1), damaged near Qatar in December 2024, temporarily disrupted Meta services, but was restored by December 20, 2024.
The parliamentary secretary also updated the House on the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB), which is reviewing Starlink’s registration. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is awaiting clearance to issue operational licenses for Starlink’s services in the country.
To expand international connectivity, new submarine cables from PTCL, Transworld, and Cybernet will increase Pakistan’s current 13.7 Tbps capacity.
In addition, the government plans to implement VPN registration and licensing to support the IT industry’s growth and enhance data routing efficiency. This initiative aims to ensure uninterrupted internet services for the IT sector, driving digital exports and fostering international collaborations.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja informed the National Assembly in a written reply that Pakistan’s IT and IT-enabled services (ITeS) exports grew by 23pc, rising from US$2.59 billion in FY2022-23 to US$3.22 billion in FY2023-24.
Shaza also highlighted that Pakistan’s ranking in the Global Cybersecurity Index (released by the UN/ITU) placed the country in the top-tier, further solidifying its position in the global tech landscape. Additionally, Pakistan made significant progress in the United Nations E-Government Development Index (EGDI) for 2024, climbing 14 places to 136th compared to 150th in the 2022 survey.
Pakistan now ranks among the top five countries for freelancing, contributing to the country’s socio-economic growth.
The ICT sector achieved a record-high export remittance inflow of US$3.223 billion during FY2023-24, marking an increase of over 24pc from the previous fiscal year’s total of US$2.596 billion. The trade surplus in the IT & ITeS industry reached US$2.827 billion, accounting for 87.71pc of the country’s total ICT export remittances, representing an increase of 22.31pc from FY2022-23.
The sector’s performance was particularly notable as the overall services sector posted a trade deficit of US$2.313 billion during the same period, highlighting the importance of the ICT sector in driving the country’s export growth. The ICT sector’s impressive growth has continued into FY2024-25, with export remittances reaching US$1.86 billion in the first half of the fiscal year (July to December), marking a 28pc increase from US$1.45 billion in the same period last year. This is the highest export remittance among all services sectors, with “other business services” trailing at US$805 million.
Despite the positive trends, the sector still faces challenges, particularly regarding taxation issues affecting the IT & ITeS industry and freelancers, which create unnecessary hurdles and challenges for businesses.
The state minister expressed optimism for the continued growth of the ICT sector, projecting that Pakistan’s ICT exports would exceed US$4 billion by the end of FY 2024-25, further cementing its role as a key contributor to the country’s economic growth.