Pakistan supercharges internet with three new subsea cables

Pakistan is preparing for a major digital transformation with the installation of three new submarine internet cables in 2025. The initiative is expected to provide faster connectivity, reduced outages, and a stronger foundation for the country’s digital economy.

Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced the plan, highlighting its impact:

“This is not just about browsing faster, it is about unlocking innovation, investment, and inclusion.”

Expanding Bandwidth Capacity

The addition of these new cables will greatly increase Pakistan’s bandwidth capacity, reducing reliance on older and vulnerable systems such as AAE-1 and SMW-4.

Pakistan is already part of several major international subsea projects:

2Africa Cable: Landed in Karachi in late 2024 and will go live by the end of 2025 with a massive 180 Tbps capacity.
Africa-1, PEACE, and MGG-1: Collectively, these systems will provide more than 200 Tbps of additional bandwidth, giving Pakistan greater stability and a safeguard against service interruptions.

These projects collectively represent the largest-ever expansion of digital capacity for the country.

Enabling 5G Expansion

Along with the installation of submarine cables, the government will also double the internet spectrum available to mobile operators.

This spectrum expansion is critical for:

Smooth 5G deployment across the country.
Better handling of the rapid surge in digital traffic.
Ensuring stable high-speed internet access in urban and rural areas alike.

Officials confirmed that the largest cable system will become operational by late 2025, in sync with spectrum expansion, providing seamless integration into the national infrastructure.

Rising Internet Usage in Pakistan

The demand for internet services in Pakistan has skyrocketed in recent years:

Over 10 million new mobile subscribers joined in the past year alone.
Pakistan now has more than 200 million mobile users.
Internet usage grew by 25% in the last two years.
More than 8 million women came online for the first time, narrowing the gender digital divide.

This rapid growth highlights the urgency of strengthening digital infrastructure to keep pace with rising usage.

Cost of Frequent Outages

Despite rapid growth, Pakistan’s internet infrastructure has faced severe challenges.

In 2024, internet disruptions caused losses worth Rs. 450 billion, making it the highest global financial loss due to connectivity breakdowns.
The nationwide internet blackout during the February elections not only disrupted services but also delayed election results and raised concerns about transparency.

Such incidents underline the importance of investing in resilient and modern systems to ensure uninterrupted digital services.

A Digital Future for Pakistan

The government is positioning these upgrades as the foundation of Pakistan’s digital future. By building stable, high-capacity infrastructure, Pakistan aims to: