Islamabad: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has stated that the recent internet disruption was due to a “fault in an undersea submarine cable,” which is expected to be fixed by August 27.
In a briefing to the National Assembly’s IT Committee, PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafiz Rahman reported that the submarine consortium informed them that the disruption in internet services was due to a fault in the submarine cable. He also mentioned that seven fiber optic cables are connected to Pakistan, one of which is malfunctioning.
This statement from the PTA chairman came amidst criticism of slow internet speeds and limited connectivity. Experts and stakeholders have criticized the potential testing of internet firewalls on social media, which are equipped with filters to block undesirable content.
The Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP), Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA), and IT experts have severely criticized the government for the impact on freelancers, IT professionals, and the digital economy.
P@SHA estimated business losses at $300 million, while WISPAP Chairman Shehzad Arshad said that businesses and individuals reliant on connectivity are now “struggling to maintain operations” due to the slow internet.
The government has denied involvement in the matter. Minister of State for IT Shiza Fatima Khawaja attributed the “slow internet” issue to the use of VPNs by users. She stated, “I can swear that the Government of Pakistan did not block or slow down the internet.”
During today’s committee meeting, Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P) legislator Aminul Haq asked the PTA Chairman for an explanation regarding the internet disruption. He questioned, “The public should be informed about why the internet service is being affected and whether a firewall is installed.”
In response, General (retd) Hafiz Rahman referred to the Minister’s remarks, stating that the reasons for the current issue were clarified in the Minister’s statement. He explained that the internet slowdown was caused by the use of VPNs.
Clarifying the firewall issue, the PTA Chairman said that the previous web management system (WMS) was renamed and replaced with firewall technology in 2019. He added that the upgrade of the firewall system began this year.
When opposition leader Omar Ayub questioned the installation of the firewall in the National Assembly, the PTA Chairman responded, “This system was introduced during your tenure.”
Speaking separately to journalists, the PTA Chairman referred to the firewall as a “web management system” aimed at controlling gray traffic. He clarified that there is no mention of a “firewall” in the system, and the media has named it as such.
Commenting on privacy concerns related to social media platforms, General (retd) Hafiz Rahman stated that social media platforms are end-to-end encrypted and no technology is available to access encrypted information.
Regarding the government’s decision to whitelist VPNs, the PTA Chief said that there is no ban or shutdown of VPNs; companies are only asked to register themselves. He stated, “VPNs are not blocked worldwide because it impacts business.”
When asked by committee members about the economic impact of the disruption, he claimed that the telecom sector has not suffered significant damage. The National Assembly Committee has requested the IT Ministry to present a report on the economic impact of internet disruptions and the technical aspects of the firewall at the next meeting.
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