Pakistan Internet Now 60% Faster, Says Shaza
Pakistan internet speed has risen by 60 per cent over the past two and a half years, while fibre-optic connectivity has doubled, Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja said.
Speaking at the Margalla Dialogue, the minister said Pakistan’s internet data usage had risen by two terabits per second. Total live internet capacity now stands at around seven terabits per second.
Two new submarine internet cables have also been added to improve international connectivity. The country’s fibre-optic network has expanded from three million connections to more than six million.
Pakistan internet speed: what the numbers mean
The figures point to a network that can carry far more traffic than it could two years ago. Fibre connections have doubled, which means more homes and offices now have a direct fibre link instead of relying on older copper lines or mobile data alone.
Data usage has grown with capacity. An extra two terabits per second of traffic is now flowing through the network, which reflects heavier use of video, cloud services and online work.
The minister also pointed to the largest spectrum auction in Pakistan’s history. The auction offered 480 MHz of spectrum. That lifted the country’s total available spectrum from 274 MHz to more than 750 MHz.
Spectrum is the radio airwave space that mobile networks use. More spectrum means networks can serve more users at higher speeds, and it is a key step before faster mobile services can reach more people.
5G and the road ahead
Shaza said 5G services have been launched in Pakistan, with around 1.8 million users already subscribed to the technology. The figure is small next to the country’s total mobile users, but it marks the start of the next generation of mobile service. ProPakistani reported the minister’s remarks from the dialogue.
The launch follows years of work on the telecom sector. The telecom regulator has been surveying network quality in Lahore and Karachi, and telcos have sought cheaper electricity for their towers to keep the network running. Satellite internet firms have also registered in Pakistan, which could bring another route to fast internet in remote areas.
The minister was speaking at the same event where Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar set out Pakistan’s diplomatic stance earlier in the week. The Margalla Dialogue brings together officials and experts to debate policy, and the technology session gave the government a stage to present its digital record.
AI will change jobs, not end them, minister says
Shaza also spoke about artificial intelligence. She said AI could become a $4.8 trillion global economy by 2033. The technology would transform jobs rather than eliminate them, she said, and people who use AI could become up to 100 times more productive than others with similar skills.
She stressed the need for people to acquire new digital skills to stay competitive as AI adoption grows. The government is committed to advancing the Digital Nation Pakistan vision and expanding the country’s digital infrastructure, she said.
The message fits the wider push to digitise public services and grow the IT sector. Faster internet and wider fibre coverage are the base on which that plan rests. If the numbers hold, ordinary users should notice the change in video calls, downloads and online services first.
Frequently asked questions
How much faster is Pakistan’s internet?
Internet speed has risen by 60 per cent over the past two and a half years, according to IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja.
How many fibre connections does Pakistan have now?
The fibre-optic network has expanded from three million connections to more than six million.
How many people use 5G in Pakistan?
Around 1.8 million users have subscribed to 5G services since the launch, the minister said.
Will AI take away jobs in Pakistan?
The minister said AI would transform jobs rather than eliminate them, and people who learn to use it could become far more productive than others with similar skills.
