Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (Retd) Hafeez Rehman, reassured the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom on Wednesday that submarine cables are safe from potential damage by sharks. Addressing the committee, he highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance Pakistan’s internet infrastructure and capacity.

The chairman informed the committee that seven submarine cables, including the highly anticipated 2Africa cable, will be connected to Pakistan’s mainframe this year. He also revealed plans for four additional cables in the coming years, which aim to improve internet capacity and reliability across the country.

The PTA chairman expressed optimism regarding the registration of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), stating that more entities are expected to submit applications to the regulator in the near future. The VPN registration process, which began in December, is part of the PTA’s broader strategy to regulate and monitor internet usage.

Concerns Over Internet Speeds

During the session, a senator raised concerns about Pakistan’s persistently poor internet speeds, noting that the country ranks 97th globally in this regard. The senator highlighted everyday challenges faced by users, such as difficulties in downloading voice notes, and called for urgent improvements in internet quality.

The committee urged the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Law to provide input on addressing these challenges and ensuring the country’s digital infrastructure meets the growing demands of users.