Pakistan is currently facing a major challenge with a significant drop in internet speed, causing disruptions to businesses and online education. The Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP) reported that internet speeds have decreased by 30-40% in recent weeks, leading to severe financial losses for businesses across the country. IT companies estimate that these disruptions have cost Pakistani businesses millions of dollars.
The impact of the internet slowdown is not limited to businesses alone. Online education in Pakistan has also been severely affected. For instance, an IT training firm, XWave, had to cancel its live sessions due to poor connectivity. The founder of XWave, Wardah Noor, mentioned that out of the 1,500 registered participants, only a few were able to join the first session due to slow internet speeds. Those who managed to connect experienced issues with audio quality and unstable connections.
Many professionals in the IT sector suspect that the government’s testing of a new nationwide internet firewall is responsible for the ongoing internet speed issues. Noor expressed her frustration, stating that while the government promises an IT revolution, it seems to be stifling it simultaneously. However, these allegations were denied by Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Pakistan’s Minister of State for IT, who attributed the slow internet speed to excessive usage of VPNs by a significant number of users in Pakistan.
The government has acknowledged plans for a firewall to regulate and block malicious content, as well as protect government networks. Khawaja defended the government’s actions, stating that it is their right to take steps to protect their interests given the cybersecurity attacks that Pakistan is facing. She also mentioned that her team had been working with internet service providers to resolve the issue and blamed Pakistan’s large population for straining the network.
Khuram Rahat, vice-chair of P@SHA, an association of around 1,500 software and IT companies, suggested that if the new firewall is causing these disruptions, there should have been some warning. Azam Mughal, a cybersecurity expert at P@SHA, revealed that members have reported significant financial losses due to these disruptions, estimating that the country has lost up to $300 million in the last few months.
Mughal also raised concerns about privacy, stating that a firewall controls, filters, and monitors content in the digital territory, including who is generating it. He emphasized that bringing digital frontiers under control is a form of censorship, although it can help curb the spread of extremism, religious intolerance, and fake content.
While Pakistani officials have attributed the internet slowdown to faulty submarine cables, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) stated that the issue was related to upgrading the government’s web management system. The situation has sparked a debate over censorship and privacy, as the proposed firewall would regulate and monitor digital content, potentially curbing the spread of harmful content but also raising concerns about control over digital frontiers.
In conclusion, the internet slowdown in Pakistan has had far-reaching consequences, impacting businesses, online education, and sparking a debate over censorship and privacy. It is essential for stakeholders to work together to address the underlying issues and find a sustainable solution that balances security concerns with the need for a free and open internet.