During a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Major General (retd) Hafeez Rehman discussed significant developments in the telecommunications sector.
He addressed the ongoing process of VPN registration, initiated on December 19, noting that two internet service providers had already applied for licenses and more are expected soon.
In a lighthearted yet informative comment, the PTA chairman assured that sharks would not pose a threat to submarine cables, which are vital for the country's internet connectivity.
"The shark can't eat the submarine cables," he said, while providing an update on the ongoing expansion of submarine cables. Seven such cables are currently arriving in Pakistan, including a cable named "2 Africa," which is expected to be connected later this year. Additionally, four more submarine cables are expected to be linked in the coming years.
Despite these advancements, Senator Humayun Mohmand pointed out the poor internet speeds in the country, where issues like difficulty in downloading voice notes persist, ranking Pakistan at a low 97th in terms of global internet speeds.
The committee also requested officials from the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Law for further discussions on these matters.
