New Delhi, March 1 (IANS). Pakistan’s internet problems have once again come into focus. A report says that ahead of the upcoming 5G spectrum auction, different reports have emerged in protest against the government’s so-called ‘firewall’ system.
According to The News International report, recent news claimed that the authorities have decided to shut down this controversial firewall system ahead of the proposed 5G auction next month.
However, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology was later told that these reports were incorrect and that the system was still in place.
Officials clarified that what is commonly called ‘firewall’, its official name is Web Management System (WMS). He described ‘firewall’ as a common colloquial term.
The lack of clarity has added to the confusion in the country, where internet services are already facing serious problems.
Users and businesses are struggling with slow speeds and sudden outages, while it is unclear whether the problem lies with the WMS or the limited spectrum available for mobile services.
Pakistan currently has about 270 MHz of spectrum allocated for mobile services, one of the lowest in the Asia-Pacific region, where an average of over 700 MHz of spectrum is available in the low and medium bands. Pakistan also lags behind regional countries in terms of spectrum allocated per million people.
There is 15.2 MHz spectrum available per million population in Sri Lanka, 7.4 MHz in Vietnam, 3.9 MHz in India, 3.6 MHz in Bangladesh, 2.1 MHz in Indonesia, while only 1.1 MHz spectrum is available in Pakistan.
The 5G spectrum auction, scheduled to take place next month, was originally planned for early 2025, but was delayed due to issues such as the pricing model. Industry experts believe that increasing spectrum availability is very important to improve service quality and be ready for next-generation technology.
In recent years, there have been many sudden internet outages in Pakistan, causing financial losses to app-based businesses and online service providers.
Some of the disruptions were attributed to damage to undersea cables. Some of the disruptions were related to rumors of government ‘test trials’ aimed at restricting content. However, little is officially known about the exact reasons behind many of these disruptions.
This uncertainty has increased concerns among tech entrepreneurs and digital investors. According to the report, a stable and strong internet connection is being considered essential for Pakistan’s ambition of becoming a technology hub.
–IANS
AY/ABM