The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has identified deficiencies in the country’s telecom infrastructure, power outages, and inadequate fiberization as the primary causes of slow internet speeds, dismissing claims that the web management system (WMS) is to blame.

According to reports, the WMS, which has been operational for 18 years, is designed to control grey traffic and does not impact internet speeds. Instead, the PTA highlighted significant challenges within the telecom sector that are affecting connectivity across Pakistan.

The PTA revealed that 42 percent of telecom sites nationwide operate without generators, leaving over 21,000 sites vulnerable to frequent power outages. While 24,885 sites are equipped with generators, many lack sufficient power backup, further exacerbating the issue during load-shedding.

The report also pointed to security challenges, noting that over 739 telecom sites have been targeted by thieves in recent years, resulting in the theft of generators and other critical equipment. Additionally, 147 sites have been attacked by terrorists over the past five years, causing significant damage to the telecom infrastructure and further impacting internet services.

On the international front, the PTA stated that previous faults in submarine cables have been resolved. It also highlighted an upcoming project by Transworld, which is laying a 45,000-kilometer submarine cable to connect Pakistan with 33 African and Middle Eastern countries. With a capacity of 18 terabytes per second, the new cable is expected to significantly enhance bandwidth and improve internet speeds across the country.