Pakistan ranked among lowest for internet speeds globally

Pakistan has been ranked among the lowest 12% of countries globally for both mobile and broadband internet speeds, according to data from Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index released on December 9, 2024.

The country was ranked 100th out of 111 countries for mobile internet speeds and 141st out of 158 countries for broadband speeds.

For several months, internet users in Pakistan have experienced slow speeds, difficulties downloading media on platforms like WhatsApp, and intermittent connectivity disruptions.

These challenges have been compounded by reports of restricted access to virtual private networks (VPNs), which many Pakistanis use to access restricted websites, including X (formerly Twitter).

According to the World Population Review, based on Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index and Cable data, Pakistan's mean mobile download speed was recorded at 7.85 MBPS, while the median mobile download speed stood at 19.59 MBPS.

The median broadband download speed was reported at 15.52 MBPS. As of May 2023, Pakistan's internet speeds were among the lowest globally, further highlighting concerns over the country’s digital infrastructure.

Earlier, the Minister of State for Information Technology, Shaza Fatima announced efforts to bring Elon Musk's satellite company, Starlink, to Pakistan.

The statement was made during a meeting of the Senate's Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan.

The committee discussed various concerns related to the IT sector, including internet speed issues and the regulation of VPN services.