Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Digital Connectivity
and Broadband Growth
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority 59
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a technological revolution
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to bridge the remaining digital divide.
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links. It has seven submarine cable connections and a
2.47
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telecom links to neighbouring countries, consisting of nine
1.92
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SEAMEWE-4
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PAK-CHINA
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PEACE
AAE-1
TW-1
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Afghanistan
Iran
Israel SeaMeWe-4
Jordan PTCL
Kuwait TW1-TWA
Pakistan
Asia Africa Europe-1
(AAE-1) PTCL
SeaMeWe-5 TWA
Egypt Persian Gulf
PEACE Cable Cyber Net
United Arab
Saudi Arabia Emirates IMEWE PTCL
SeaMeWe-3 PTCL
Oman
Eritrea Yemen
Ethiopia
Sudan
Somalia
Uganda
Kenya
United Arab Emirates (UAE). This cable system, which will access through carrier-neutral data centers or open-access
further connect to Mediterranean countries such as Algeria, CLSs to nurture a vibrant Internet ecosystem. Most of
-XEP]ERH8YRMWMEGSRWMWXWSJƼFIVTEMVW8LIWYVZI] the subsea route survey work is complete, and 2Africa
has been completed, and the delivery and installation of MWI\TIGXIHXSƄKSPMZIƅMRIEVP]
cable station equipment is currently underway. The cable
MWI\TIGXIHXSFIJYPP]STIVEXMSREPF]IRH Operators in Pakistan have developed advanced Points of
Presence (POPs) in key regional digital hubs to enhance
SMW-6 (South East Asia-Middle East-West their global presence. These POPs serve as gateways
Europe 6) XSQENSVMRXIVREXMSREP-RXIVRIXXVEƾGVSYXIWSJJIVMRK
In response to the growing demand and need for infrastructure customers swift access to critical network infrastructure
XSWYTTSVXXLIHITPS]QIRXSJ*MFIV8S8LI,SQI *88, and global content. They deliver high-quality services with
8;%4EOMWXERMWKIEVMRKYTXSIRLERGIMXWMRJVEWXVYGXYVI low latency and fewer hops for broadband, enterprise,
and connectivity resources to ensure highest standards of and carrier customers.
quality. A central part of its plan is to enhance international
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GEFPIW]WXIQ&IMRKETVSQMRIRXWXEOILSPHIV[MXLMRXLI Optical Fiber Cable Network
71;'SRWSVXMYQXLMWQSZI[MPPIREFPI8;%4EOMWXER 3*'RIX[SVOWEVIZMXEPJSV4EOMWXERƅWXIPIGSQQYRMGEXMSRW
XSFVMRKXLILMKLXIGL71;GEFPIW]WXIQXS/EVEGLMƅW and Internet infrastructure, providing high-speed, reliable,
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W]WXIQFIX[IIR7MRKETSVIERH1EVWIMPPI*VERGI[MXLE deployment, PTA and the government launched initiatives
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by its cutting-edge technology, this advanced cable system security concerns, and funding constraints. Efforts
GSRWMWXWSJƼFIVTEMVWIEGLGETEFPISJXVERWQMXXMRK were made at the highest level, addressing most of the
data at speeds of 12.6 Tbps, resulting in a system capacity 6S;MWWYIWYRHIVXLIYQFVIPPESJ7-*'JSVƼFIVM^EXMSR
of 126 Tbps, all achieved through utilization of the latest of communication networks. The increasing demand
7(1XIGLRSPSK] for high-speed Internet and digital services presents
opportunities for investment and expansion. Pakistan
2Africa GSRXMRYIWXSMRZIWXMR3*'RIX[SVOWXSWYTTSVXMXWHMKMXEP
The 2Africa subsea cable project, which connects Africa, IGSRSQ]ERHGSRRIGXMZMX]RIIHW2I[0(-PMGIRWIIWEVI
)YVSTIERH%WME[MXLPERHMRKWMRGSYRXVMIW[MPPLIVEPH SFPMKEXIHXSPE]OMPSQIXIVWSJ3*'MRXLIMVMRMXMEPWM\
a new era of Internet connectivity in Pakistan. The project, ]IEVWJEGMPMXEXMRKJYVXLIVƼFIVM^EXMSRERHGSRRIGXMZMX]JSV
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62 %229%06)43682023
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10.5%
12.6%
·
16.1%
5.8%
5.9%
6.0%
7.2%
9.8%
13.1%
18.1%
17.7%
17.9%
10.4%
11.6%
13.5%
Industry
2021
2022
2023
2021
2022
2023
2021
2022
2023
2021
2022
2023
2021
2022
2023
license obligations for population coverage of networks and Fiber Connectivity to Cell Sites
enhanced QoS standards, both in the renewal of existing
PMGIRWIWERHXLIMWWYERGISJRI[2+17PMGIRWIW8LMW 8LIKSZIVRQIRXMWTVITEVMRKXSPEYRGL+WIVZMGIWMR
regulatory approach has encouraged telecom operators to Pakistan next year. A draft policy guideline designed to
expand and modernize their networks, ushering in an era JEGMPMXEXIXLIHITPS]QIRXSJ+ERHEHZERGIHXIGLRSPSKMIW
of increased connectivity and high-speed data services. MWEPVIEH]MRTPEGIEPSRK[MXLXLIMHIRXMƼGEXMSRSJWTIGXVYQ
In response, operators have strategically expanded their JSV+,S[IZIVXSMRXVSHYGI+WIVZMGIWMRERIJJIGXMZI
cell sites' infrastructure, facilitating broader network ERHIƾGMIRXQERRIVXLIKSZIVRQIRXQYWXTVMSVMXM^IXLI
GSZIVEKIERHIRLERGIH5S73ZIVXLIPEWXƼZI]IEVW development of the requisite infrastructure. Currently,
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KVS[XLMRGPYHMRKXLIHITPS]QIRXSJGIPP connected, while international standards recommend
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have made multi-billion-dollar investments in upgrading [MHIWTVIEH+PEYRGL7YFWXERXMEPIJJSVXWERHMRZIWXQIRX
I\MWXMRK+WMXIWXS+ERH+'YVVIRXP] SJGIPP are required to upgrade the infrastructure for proliferation
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However, it can also exacerbate socio-
economic inequalities, particularly among
those who lack connectivity, affordable
devices, or the requisite skills to leverage
digital services. Harnessing the potential of
digital technology for development requires
concerted efforts to steer technology
development and digital transformation in an
MRGPYWMZIERHWYWXEMREFPIHMVIGXMSR(MKMXEPXVERWJSVQEXMSRGERRSXFIMRGPYWMZIERHWYWXEMREFPIYRPIWWXLIRIIHW
of the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized groups—including women—are addressed. It must alleviate existing
inequalities, leaving no one behind. To achieve this goal, PTA has incorporated additional rollout obligations in
XIVQWSJTIVGIRXEKISJTSTYPEXMSRGSZIVEKIMRGIPPYPEVQSFMPIPMGIRWIW%HHMXMSREPP]97*STIVEXIWTVSKVEQQIW
that aim to make telecom and ICT services accessible and affordable in underserved and unserved areas,
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unserved tehsils.
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16,254
99.4
12,572
10,850
77.9
9,385
51.7
8,974
41.4
37.0
32.4
7,280
30.0
21.9
6,855
16.3
15.1
12.5
5,717
2019-20
2020-21
2018-19
2017-18
2022-23
2021-22
WXMQYPEXIHXLII\TERWMSRERHEHSTXMSRSJ+WIVZMGIW ;LMPI4EOMWXERPIHXLIVIKMSRMRQSFMPI-RXIVRIXWTIIHYRXMP
3ZIVXLITEWXƼZI]IEVWXLIXIPIGSQQYRMGEXMSRWWIGXSVLEW 2022, there has only been a modest improvement—from
experienced remarkable growth in broadband subscriptions, 1FTWXS1FTWƂFIX[IIR.YP]ERH.YP]
IRGSQTEWWMRKFSXLQSFMPIERHƼ\IHWIVZMGIW1SFMPI 2023, due to slower expansion. In contrast, neighboring
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MRGVIEWMRKJVSQQMPPMSRMR*=XSERSYXWXERHMRK
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Median Mobile Internet Download Speed
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subscriptions also demonstrated reasonable growth, rising
July 2022 July 2023
F] JVSQQMPPMSRMR*=XSQMPPMSRMR*=
2022-23. This growth highlights the enduring importance 4EOMWXER
of stable, high-speed Internet connectivity for businesses
India
and households. In sum, the overall broadband landscape,
IRGSQTEWWMRKFSXLQSFMPIERHƼ\IHWYFWGVMTXMSRWLEW &ERKPEHIWL
I\TERHIHWMKRMƼGERXP]F] VIEGLMRKQMPPMSRF] Nepal 13.96
7ITXIQFIVGSQTEVIHXSQMPPMSRMR*=
8LIWIWXEXMWXMGWIQTLEWM^IXLIKVS[MRKWMKRMƼGERGISJ Sri Lanka 11.39
broadband services in Pakistan’s digitally connected society. 7SYVGI7TIIHXIWX+PSFEP-RHI\
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114.6
46.2
80.6
38.9
49.0
31.3 37.9 34.1 32.8
18.3
FY 2022-23
2017-18 2018-19 2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23
6 Pakistan 0.12
61%
56%
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20
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22
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20
3
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20
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9
20
17
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growth prospects including the sale of multi-band The examination of the bandwidth utilization landscape
WTIGXVYQE[EVHWJSV+ERH+WIVZMGIWEXVIEWSREFPI involves the collection of data from a variety of sources
market-based terms and conditions, rationalizing taxes, MRGPYHMRK'07STIVEXSVW-74WERH'SRXIRX(IPMZIV]2IX[SVO
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XLIXIVQWJSVSFXEMRMRK6S;JSVRIX[SVOHITPS]QIRXW reveals a daily bandwidth utilization of approximately
among other initiatives. In addition to these reforms, 8FTW'(2WTPE]EGVYGMEPVSPIMRXLMWPERHWGETI
operators should diversify their service offerings beyond contributing a substantial 12.38 Tbps, while CLS operators
traditional voice and data services. Exploring partnerships TVSZMHI8FTW8LIHSQMRERGISJ'(2HVMZIRXVEƾGMW
with digital service providers can introduce value-added TEVXMGYPEVP]WXVMOMRKQEOMRKYTEWMKRMƼGERX SJXLI
services and other offerings that cater to the evolving total bandwidth utilization. This trend not only optimizes
demands of customers. bandwidth costs but also enhances the overall quality of
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Bandwidth Utilization pivotal role in delivering Internet services to a substantial
segment of the population.
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across a multitude of applications, platforms, and web and their respective contributions to Pakistan’s bandwidth
WIVZMGIW2SXEFP]XLI]SYRKIVHIQSKVETLMGMWI\GITXMSREPP] utilization scenario. It shines a spotlight on the prevailing
active on social media and video content platforms. MRƽYIRGISJQENSVTPE]IVWPMOI1IXE GSQTVMWMRK*EGIFSSO
Currently, Pakistan boasts an impressive user base of -RWXEKVEQ;LEXW%TT1IWWIRKIV ERH+SSKPIJYVXLIV
QMPPMSREGXMZIMRHMZMHYEPWSRZEVMSYWWSGMEPQIHME emphasizing the extensive popularity of their platforms
platforms, forging robust connections with the global and services throughout the region. These statistics offer
digital landscape. valuable insights into the digital preferences and usage
patterns of Internet users in Pakistan.
8VEƾG7XEXMWXMGW+FTW4IV(E] 7ITX
Operator CDN CLS Total Percentage
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Total 12,382.99
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GVYGMEPMRJVEWXVYGXYVI
3ZIVEPP4EOMWXERƅWGSQQMXQIRXXSIRLERGMRKMXWXIPIGSQQYRMGEXMSRWERH-RXIVRIXMRJVEWXVYGXYVIMW
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ERHXIGLRSPSKMGEPP]EHZERGIH4EOMWXER