World’s Largest Submarine Cable Has Arrived in Pakistan

The world’s largest submarine cable, the Africa-2 Cable Project, has arrived in Pakistan. Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima shared this development in the National Assembly on Monday while addressing concerns raised by lawmakers over the country’s internet issues.

Senator Mohammad Aslam Abro criticized the government for failing to fix technical internet problems despite global advancements. He suggested referring the matter of frequent internet disruptions to a parliamentary committee. Responding to the criticism,

Shaza Fatima explained that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has doubled its frequency capacity over the last two years. She added that IT exports had increased by 33 percent in the past five months, while internet users had grown by 25 percent.

Shaza Fatima also highlighted that Pakistan is supported by eight submarine cables, one of which had outlived its operational lifespan. She expressed optimism that the Africa-2 Cable, a 45,000-kilometer undersea network spanning 33 countries, would address connectivity issues and significantly enhance the country’s internet infrastructure. Most of the disruptions, she noted, stem from mobile broadband services.

Senator Anusha Rehman raised questions about spectrum management, arguing that there had been insufficient consultation on spectrum allocations and their potential to attract investment. In her response, Shaza Fatima acknowledged slow progress in mobile sector development over the past two to three years. She noted that PTA had hired US-based consultants to devise new policies and added that some countries now provide spectrum at little to no cost to promote growth.

Senator Zeeshan Khanzada expressed skepticism about achieving Pakistan’s $10 billion IT export target, citing political instability as a major hurdle. Shaza Fatima countered by questioning the basis of earlier projections and criticized the misuse of the Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) for real estate purposes. The session concluded with calls for robust reforms and transparency to resolve internet challenges and boost the IT sector.