Pakistan to Enhance Connectivity with Three New Submarine Cables and Expanded Spectrum
Islamabad – Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja has unveiled a transformative plan: Pakistan will install three additional submarine internet cables to elevate international connectivity and accelerate nationwide internet performance. She highlighted that this initiative is more than a speed boost—it’s about unlocking new pathways for innovation, investment, and digital inclusion.
Boosting Bandwidth and Stability
The new cable projects are poised to significantly fortify Pakistan’s bandwidth capacity and mitigate the frequent disruptions stemming from older systems like AAE-1 and SMW-4.
Spectrum Expansion for 5G
In tandem, the government plans to double the mobile internet spectrum—from the currently allocated 274 MHz to over 540 MHz—to lay the groundwork for 5G deployment and meet surging digital demand.
Timeline & Future Prospects
Officials anticipate that the largest of the new submarine cables will become operational before the end of 2025, closely followed by the expanded spectrum release, ensuring a synchronized rollout of enhanced services.
Why This Matters
- Rapid Digital Growth: Mobile subscribers in Pakistan now exceed 200 million, with internet usage up by 25% over two years. Notably, 8 million women have come online for the first time, narrowing the gender digital gap.
- Resolving Costly Disruptions: In 2024, internet outages—especially the nationwide shutdown during the February elections—cost Pakistan an estimated PKR450 billion, the highest loss globally.
