ISLAMABAD: Amid internet disruptions faced by millions of users across Pakistan, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunications Shahza Fatima Khawaja has said that Pakistan will use Starlink — billionaire Elon Musk’s satellite-based platform — to bring its services to the country. Internet company is in touch with — .
Khawaja said during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunication on Thursday that we are in talks with Starlink to bring them to Pakistan.
The minister also apprised the panel about plans to auction 5G spectrum in April 2024, citing it as a step towards modernizing the country’s digital infrastructure.
However, he acknowledged significant challenges, including the absence of investment in the IT sector over the past three years, which has affected the country’s ability to meet the growing demands of internet usage.
VPN
Concerns regarding the use of VPNs were also addressed in the meeting. PTA Chairman Major General (retd) Hafeezur Rehman clarified that VPN licensing will begin from January 1, with the aim of reducing data security risks posed by unregulated services.
While Senator Affanullah Khan pointed to technical barriers, such as firewall management, contributing to slow internet speeds. The IT ministry secretary added that the increase in data consumption also led to disruptions.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) Chairman Sajjad Syed stressed the importance of reliable internet for the IT sector, which is growing at a rate of 30 percent annually.
He called for urgent collaboration between the government and the private sector to address these concerns.
Internet slowdown not according to any policy.
During the meeting, the legislators expressed anger over the slow speed as well as the recent internet disruptions, which have affected millions of people across the country resulting in loss of access to various online platforms and media, voice notes etc. Having problems sharing and downloading.
These Internet problems are especially worrisome for home workers, freelancers, digital marketers, and students attending online classes, who depend on reliable Internet access.
Touching on the matter, Chairman P@SHA informed the committee that 99% IT companies have complained of internet disruption.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman PTA categorically rejected the existence of a policy regarding internet speed reduction.
“There is no policy to slow down the internet,” Major (retd) Rehman said, dismissing the role of VPNs in slowing down the internet.
He remarked that if such a policy exists, the government should be asked about it.
Meanwhile, IT Minister Khawaja blamed technical reasons for the slow internet speed, saying the government has to control fake news.
“We will limit the internet. [services] With a heavy heart if we have to for security reasons,” the minister said, adding: “Internet is working perfectly fine today”.
He further told the committee that he had spoken to the PTA chairman a few days ago and directed him to identify the internet problems and their locations.
Responding to Senator Afnanullah’s statement that the spectrum problem was not behind the slow internet speed, Khawaja said: “You all have phones in your hands, tell me which app is not working right now”.