Internet Slowdowns Disrupt Social Media Services in Pakistan, Reports PTA

Telecom operators in Pakistan have reported disruptions in social media services and web browsing during recent internet slowdowns, as revealed in feedback provided to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). This comes as the PTA investigates public concerns over the deteriorating quality of internet services across the country.

Cellular Mobile Operators (CMOs)

The report, shared with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, detailed the varying issues faced by operators.

• Jazz and Telenor: Both operators observed blocking issues on platform X (formerly Twitter), however they have reported no other irregularities in web browsing or data services.
• Zong: Reported a decrease in data usage among all major applications, highlighting a notable 16% drop in TikTok traffic.
• Ufone: Highlighted intermittent degradation in the performance of leading over-the-top (OTT) services, while general web browsing remained unaffected.

Fixed-line operators presented a mixed picture. PTCL has acknowledged sporadic disruptions affecting widely-used social media platforms such as TikTok, WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram, while web browsing services remain unaffected and stable. Cybernet reported interruptions in social media activity and internet browsing, whereas Nayatel asserted that its services were not impacted. Transworld Associates (TWA) has recognized a decline in browsing speeds along with disruptions in video streaming and voice calls, citing the necessity for increased bandwidth to accommodate rising demand.

The PTA has linked these disruptions to normal data usage trends and the growing dependence on VPNs that bypass content delivery networks (CDNs), which has added to the pressure on Pakistan’s submarine cable capacity of 9.5 Gbps. The PTA’s findings highlighted the pressing need for comprehensive enhancements to guarantee dependable and resilient internet services across the country.

The challenges underscore the increasing strains on Pakistan’s telecom infrastructure, pointing to the necessity for targeted investments in bandwidth capacity and service improvements to address the surging digital demands.