Telecom operators in Pakistan have highlighted disruptions in social media platforms and web browsing during internet slowdowns, according to feedback provided to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).
The PTA’s investigation into widespread complaints about deteriorating internet quality uncovered varying issues across different operators. The findings were shared with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, detailing network-specific challenges.
Insights from Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs)
CMOs reported diverse disruptions in social media platforms:
- Jazz and Telenor observed blocking issues on platform X (formerly Twitter), with no significant problems in web browsing or other data services.
- Zong experienced a decline in data traffic across major applications, including a 16% drop in TikTok usage.
- Ufone cited intermittent performance issues with popular over-the-top (OTT) platforms, though general web browsing was unaffected.
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Reports from Fixed-Line Operators
Fixed-line operators shared similar concerns:
- PTCL identified intermittent degradation in social media services such as TikTok, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, while general web browsing remained stable.
- Cybernet reported disruptions in both social media usage and web browsing on its networks.
- Nayatel, however, claimed no disruptions in either category.
- TWA acknowledged issues with video streaming, call quality, and slow browsing speeds, admitting the need for expanded bandwidth capacity to meet growing demand.
Underlying Challenges and PTA’s Observations
The PTA noted that the growing use of VPNs bypassing content delivery networks (CDNs) has intensified the strain on Pakistan’s submarine cable capacity of 9.5 Gbps. These disruptions, according to the PTA, reflect routine data throughput and usage patterns rather than isolated anomalies.
In its report to the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, the PTA emphasized the urgency of systemic upgrades to improve internet infrastructure and ensure reliable connectivity nationwide.
