The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has identified four key factors contributing to the recent internet disruptions across the country. In a briefing to the Lahore High Court, PTA Chairman emphasized that a malfunction in the submarine cable was the primary cause of the widespread internet slowdown.

The PTA chairman assured that the issue would be resolved by August 22, 2024. He also clarified that the internet is occasionally shut down following government orders, but denied that any actions by the PTA had intentionally slowed down internet speeds.

During a Senate IT Committee meeting, chaired by Syed Amir Haq, the PTA disclosed that the telecommunications sector had suffered losses of approximately $300 million due to internet disruptions in 2023, when the internet was shut down seven times by government directives.

The committee also discussed ongoing upgrades to existing monitoring systems, including VPN (Virtual Private Network) registration, which has raised concerns about potential impacts on businesses. The PTA chairman assured that VPNs would not be blocked, but only registered, to avoid disruption to business activities.

Meanwhile, the Peshawar High Court has also demanded answers from the Federal Secretary of IT and PTA regarding the internet slowdowns, seeking to understand the impact of firewalls and other monitoring tools being implemented. The PTA reiterated that the submarine cable issue was the main culprit, with repairs expected to be completed by August 22.