PTA Chairman Says Submarine Cable Fault Disrupted Internet in Pakistan Not Firewall

Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Major General (R) Hafeezur Rehman on Wednesday said he doesn’t know if the new firewall disrupted internet services across Pakistan. Still, he assured that the issue will be fixed by August 22, 2024. Addressing the National Assembly Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, the PTA chairman blamed the recent internet issues on a technical fault in the submarine cable that connects Pakistan to the world. This fault is expected to be fully resolved by August 27 with the arrival of seven new submarine cables, he added. The chairman said VPN usage had increased as a workaround during the disruption but denied that the cable issue was worldwide. He said the submarine fault was on Pakistan’s infrastructure only and wasn’t a global issue. The committee members also discussed concerns surrounding the national firewall which is being installed as part of an aggressive web management strategy to control social media content. One participant (Omar Ayub) said the firewall might be causing the internet slowdown, sparking a debate with other officials who insisted the firewall had not yet been fully deployed and therefore was not the cause of the current disruptions. The PTA Chairman reassured the committee that the firewall’s installation is in line with directives from the Federal Cabinet to control social media and enhance national security. Ayub questioned the potential impact of such a system on digital freedom in the country. He stressed that any actions taken should be transparent and accountable to Parliament. The meeting also addressed concerns about the potential for government agencies to intercept private communications, with Omar Ayub questioning the extent of their capabilities. The committee reiterated its opposition to any restrictions that hinder progress and called for clarity on the impact of firewalls on citizens’ lives. The PTA Chairman clarified that the web management system had been upgraded twice before, and the decision to upgrade in March 2019 led to the introduction of the National Firewall System. He stated that the current government is continuing the previous administration’s decisions and that the PTA is bound to implement federal cabinet directives. During the meeting, a heated exchange occurred between Omar Ayub and PML-N member Zulfiqar Bhatti, with Bhatti accusing Ayub of blaming agencies for actions authorized by his own government. Ayub emphasized the importance of strengthening Parliament, stating, “If Parliament is strong, we are strong.” The meeting also discussed the broader impact of the recent internet slowdowns on the economy.  The telecom sector lost over $300 million during the period, while IT companies and freelancers have been particularly hard hit. Member IT lamented the severe damage to the country’s reputation due to these disruptions, with financial losses in the IT industry still being calculated. The committee expressed frustration over poor connectivity in various regions, particularly in Tharparkar, where 75% of the network remains non-operational. Members also noted that some areas have been without internet service for three years, and mobile signals remain weak in interior Sindh. The committee wasn’t happy with the PTA not answering its questions more clearly, with members questioning whether citizens in these areas are being treated equally. The committee called for a detailed report on the damage caused by these internet issues and urged the PTA to improve its quality of service. The PTA Chairman responded that a Quality of Service Mechanism is already in place and that companies are fined when service falls short. He added that PTA conducts regular surveys and each mobile operator is required to install 455 new towers annually to enhance coverage.