Islamabad, Dec 10: Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index ranked Pakistan among the lowest 12% globally for mobile and broadband internet speeds in October.
The country ranked 100th out of 111 countries for mobile internet speeds and 141st out of 158 countries for broadband speeds.
Users in Pakistan have faced slow speeds, difficulties downloading media on platforms like WhatsApp, and intermittent connectivity issues.
Reports of restricted access to virtual private networks (VPNs) compounded these disruptions, as many Pakistanis use VPNs to bypass restrictions on websites like X.
Pakistan’s average download speed was 7.85 Mbps, with a median mobile download speed of 19.59 Mbps and median broadband download speed of 15.52 Mbps.
The country has faced challenges in improving internet connectivity, which led to speculation about a new “firewall” system.
The government confirmed in August that it was upgrading its web-management system to address cybersecurity threats, though concerns about transparency regarding internet monitoring persisted.
Regarding VPN access, the interior ministry had sought a ban on unregulated VPN use, citing security concerns, but later withdrew the request due to legal challenges and a lack of sufficient grounds.
However, The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had asked citizens to register their VPNs by November 30, 2024, to avoid disconnection.
