Efforts underway to introduce 5G internet services: PM Shehbaz

ISLAMABAD: Efforts are underway to introduce for 5G internet for faster and reliable internet services, said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday. 

"This will also help achieve the vision of Digital Pakistan," said the premier while addressing a delegation of VEON Group — which is a multinational telecommunication and digital services company, in Islamabad, the federal capital of the country. 

Pakistan has been going through a bout of "slow internet" for months now, during which users also suffered social media outages several times.  

The country's internet speeds are woefully behind international standards, threatening the country to leave in the dust of the global digital economy.

Since February, access to X has been restricted with users often complained of disruption in the services of social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Snapchat.

Last week, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had claimed that internet services had been restored countrywide following the successful repair of the SMW4 underwater cable defect.

As per The News, the PTA had said that internet services had been restored, after an outage of around 4-month long brought on by defects in two underwater cables — the SMW4 (in June) and AAE1 (in August).

Meanwhile, the prime minister expressed government's determination to achieving the target of 25 billion dollars in IT exports over the next three years.

He said the government was working to develop and promote the telecommunication sector.

Describing the role of telecom sector as very important in promoting cashless and digital economy, the premier expressed Pakistan's willingness to work with VEON Group for promotion of Information Technology, digitisation and artificial intelligence.

The delegation appreciated the government's efforts regarding economic stability in the country. 

It recognised that Pakistan has become an important country for investment in the IT and telecom sector.