Pakistan is set for a major digital upgrade this year as the government prepares to lay new submarine Internet cables to strengthen connectivity and support 5G technology rollout.
Federal Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said on Thursday that the project would not only enhance internet speed but also improve reliability, reduce outages, and unlock broader economic opportunities, according to a statement published by state broadcaster Radio Pakistan.
“The new cables will expand bandwidth capacity, reduce dependence on older systems, and place Pakistan as a stronger participant in global digital networks,” said Fatima.
Read: Internet upgrade
Earlier, Pakistan also actively participated in major global subsea projects, including the 2Africa cable, installed in Karachi in late 2024 and expected to go live by the end of 2025 with a capacity of 180 Tbps. Other projects such as Africa‑1, PEACE, and MGG‑1, are expected to collectively add over 26 Tbps of bandwidth.
Photo Courtesy: PTCL
The additional infrastructure, including the three new cables, is expected to help overcome recurring problems linked to outage-prone cables such as Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1) and South East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe 4 (SMW-4), according to Fatima.
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The government views the expansion as central to its wider digital strategy, aiming to attract investment, improve service delivery, and enable businesses to scale in a more connected economy.
Industry experts say the move could pave the way for faster adoption of 5G and strengthen Pakistan’s regional position in digital trade, claimed the statement.
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