Internet Service to Normalize on August 27: Chairman PTA

Staff Report:Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has admitted installation of firewall and said that internet disruption would be addressed on August 27.

During a briefing to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), disclosed that recent internet disruptions in the country were due to a fault in the submarine cable network. PTCL-Telenor Merger: CCP seeks comments from PTA, other stakeholders

The fault, which affected internet services nationwide, is expected to be resolved by August 27. While the telecommunications sector has incurred losses amounting to Rs 300 million, the full extent of the damage to the IT sector remains uncertain, as much of it is undocumented.

The meeting further delved into the progress of the National Firewall System (NFS), which is being upgraded for the third time after receiving approval in October 2020. Chairman PTA clarified that although financial issues had delayed the implementation, the upgrade is essential for improving the country’s cybersecurity measures.

He reassured the committee that the NFS, which has been designed to manage web traffic and control social media content, had not yet been fully deployed and thus was not responsible for the current internet slowdowns. This statement came in response to concerns raised by committee member Omar Ayub, who questioned whether the firewall system might be exacerbating connectivity issues.

The NFS is part of a broader strategy aimed at enhancing national security and managing social media platforms. However, Ayub expressed concerns about the system’s impact on digital freedoms in Pakistan, calling for transparency and parliamentary oversight to ensure that it does not infringe on the rights of citizens.

This issue sparked a debate during the session, with different officials defending the NFS as a necessary measure in response to growing threats in cyberspace. Despite these assurances, the concerns about potential overreach and the interception of private communications by government agencies persisted.

The PTA Chairman provided further clarification on the legal framework supporting the NFS. Citing the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016, he explained that the PTA has been empowered to block or remove online content deemed harmful to the security, defense, and integrity of Pakistan.

He also referenced the 2021 rules on the removal and blocking of unlawful online content, which formalized the procedures and safeguards for enforcing PECA provisions. Under this framework, social media platforms such as Twitter (now X) have been temporarily blocked in the past due to national security concerns.

In addition to addressing the issues with internet connectivity and the NFS, the committee raised concerns about the weak mobile signals in certain regions of Pakistan, particularly in interior Sindh, where some areas have been without internet access for over three years.

The PTA Chairman acknowledged these challenges and emphasized the ongoing efforts to improve mobile network quality and coverage across the country. He outlined that since January 2021, over 600 surveys have been conducted to monitor the Quality of Service (QoS) provided by Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs). Based on the survey results, operators are issued notices to address service gaps, and fines are imposed when necessary.

The committee urged the PTA to deliver a comprehensive report on the economic damage caused by the internet disruptions and to accelerate efforts to improve service quality. Chairman Hafeez Ur Rehman affirmed that the PTA is committed to enhancing service delivery, with each mobile operator required to install new towers annually to expand coverage.

However, the committee remained dissatisfied with the PTA’s responses, particularly regarding the unequal treatment of citizens in rural and underserved areas, and called for further accountability and improvements.