NA panel voices concern over poor internet services, including in Karachi

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Tuesday voiced concern over poor internet services across Pakistan, saying users continue to face slow browsing speeds and frequent call drops, including in major cities such as Karachi.

The committee, chaired by Syed Amin Ul Haque, said unreliable internet connectivity was no longer limited to remote areas and had become a problem in urban centres as well.

During the meeting, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) told lawmakers that the country's available telecom spectrum had increased from 274 MHz to 754 MHz following the recent 5G spectrum auction, a move expected to improve network performance.

PTA Chairman Maj Gen (retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman said telecom operators had launched 5G services in 22 cities under the first phase of the rollout. He said the services were currently operating on existing mobile towers and network infrastructure, with new 5G infrastructure to be installed gradually over the next six to eight months.

The committee was informed that consumers should see a gradual improvement in internet services as the rollout progresses.

The PTA chairman said load shedding of up to 10 hours a day in some areas was disrupting telecom services. He added that the issue had been raised with the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and power distribution companies.

He also informed the committee that the prime minister had formed a high-level committee to develop a long-term solution for ensuring uninterrupted electricity to telecom towers.

The committee recommended exploring alternative energy sources, particularly wind power, to keep telecom infrastructure operational.