Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has revealed that Pakistan is preparing for a major upgrade to its internet infrastructure with the installation of three new submarine cables. The initiative aims to strengthen international connectivity, deliver faster internet speeds, and support the country’s growing demand for digital services. Speaking to the media, Khawaja stressed that this investment goes beyond improving speed, describing it as a move to open new opportunities for innovation, investment, and inclusion. She highlighted that digital infrastructure is now central to economic progress and global competitiveness.
The new cable systems are expected to significantly expand Pakistan’s bandwidth capacity and reduce the country’s dependence on existing routes, such as AAE-1 and SMW-4, which have been prone to outages in the past. According to the Ministry of IT, the projects will address rapidly increasing user demand and strengthen the resilience of Pakistan’s internet backbone. The country is also participating in global subsea projects including 2Africa, which made its landing in Karachi in late 2024 and is scheduled to go live by the end of 2025 with a massive 180 Tbps capacity. Other key projects such as Africa-1, PEACE, and MGG-1 are expected to collectively contribute over 26 Tbps of bandwidth, underscoring Pakistan’s growing role in international data connectivity networks. Officials have confirmed that the largest of the new cables will become operational before the close of 2025, which is set to provide much-needed relief to current capacity constraints.
Alongside cable development, the government is planning to double the mobile internet spectrum available to telecom operators, a step seen as vital for the rollout of 5G services across the country. With digital traffic steadily rising, spectrum expansion will enable operators to deliver higher quality services and support advanced applications, ranging from cloud-based platforms to IoT-driven solutions. Industry experts believe this dual investment in submarine infrastructure and mobile spectrum allocation will allow Pakistan to accelerate its digital economy while improving service reliability for both businesses and individuals. The alignment of spectrum expansion with cable upgrades reflects a coordinated strategy to enhance Pakistan’s overall digital readiness.
This expansion comes at a time when internet adoption in the country is witnessing rapid growth. Over the past year alone, Pakistan added more than 10 million new mobile users, pushing the total number of subscribers beyond 200 million. Internet usage has climbed by 25% in the last two years, with a notable milestone being the inclusion of 8 million women who came online for the first time—an important step toward narrowing the gender digital divide. However, challenges remain, as Pakistan recorded estimated losses of Rs. 450 billion in 2024 due to internet disruptions, the highest globally that year. Incidents such as the nationwide shutdown during the February general elections not only disrupted economic activity but also raised concerns around transparency in the democratic process. With these developments, the planned submarine cable projects and spectrum expansion mark a significant move toward strengthening Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and ensuring its resilience against future disruptions.
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