Pakistan has found itself among the bottom 12% of countries worldwide in terms of both mobile and broadband internet speeds, according to Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index. As of October, the country ranked 100th out of 111 nations for mobile internet speeds and 141st out of 158 for broadband speeds.
Ongoing Connectivity Issues
For months, users across Pakistan have faced persistent slow internet connections, which have made tasks like downloading media on WhatsApp and maintaining a stable connection difficult. These disruptions have been exacerbated by ongoing interruptions to internet access and reports of restricted VPN usage.
Restrictions on VPN Usage
VPN services, which many Pakistanis rely on to access blocked websites such as X (formerly Twitter), have faced increasing restrictions. The government’s crackdown on VPN use has raised concerns about the free flow of information and access to online content.
Average Internet Speeds in Pakistan
According to the World Population Review, using data from Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index, Pakistan’s average download speed stands at 7.85 MBPS. The median mobile download speed is 19.59 MBPS, and the median broadband download speed is 15.52 MBPS. These figures place Pakistan among the countries with the slowest internet speeds globally.
Cybersecurity Concerns and Government Response
In August, the government confirmed plans to upgrade its “web management system” to address growing cybersecurity threats. However, despite these assurances, human rights groups like Amnesty International have expressed concern over the lack of transparency regarding the nationwide internet slowdown and the government’s use of monitoring and surveillance technologies. Amnesty has warned that such actions could lead to censorship, blocking, or slowing down content without clear explanations.
Ministry of Interior Pushes for VPN Ban
The Ministry of Interior has called for a ban on the unregulated use of VPNs, citing concerns that terrorists have exploited VPN services for violent activities and financial transactions. The ministry also raised concerns about VPN usage for accessing inappropriate content, including pornography and blasphemous material. This has led to a crackdown on unregistered VPN services.
Deadline for VPN Registration
In a letter to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Ministry of Interior urged action against unregistered VPNs, prompting the PTA to set a registration deadline of November 30. After this date, unregistered VPN connections would be blocked. Although the PTA has denied that it is restricting VPN access, attributing disruptions to a “technical glitch,” the ongoing measures have continued to fuel concerns about internet access, transparency, and censorship in the country.
