PTA blames telecom infrastructure for internet slowdown

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blamed telecom infrastructure for internet slowdown across Pakistan after virtual private networks.

According to a report by the PTA, the reasons for the slow internet speed are telecom infrastructure, power outages and inadequate fiberization. The PTA claims that the 18-year-old web management system focuses on controlling gray traffic and has no role in slowing down internet speeds. The report said that 42 percent of telecom sites across Pakistan are working without generators due to which more than 21,000 sites suffer from power outages and internet and telecom services are affected during power loadshedding. Over 24,885 sites have generators installed but insufficient power backup, the PTA report added, adding that generators and other critical equipment were stolen at more than 739 telecom sites in recent years. The PTA claimed that 147 sites were attacked by terrorists in the last five years, damaging telecom infrastructure and eventually the Internet.