PTA Uncovers Cause of Internet Slowdown in Pakistan
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has identified that the slowdown in internet speeds across Pakistan is due to wholesale IP bandwidth providers obstructing the resale of bandwidth by other operators.
The wholesale IP bandwidth market in Pakistan is primarily controlled by four major overseas cable operators: PTCL, Transworld Associates (TWA), Cybernet, and SCO. These companies provide bandwidth to downstream operators, including fixed-line and cellular mobile providers, who then distribute it to residential and corporate customers.
According to official documents obtained by ProPakistani, the existing legal framework and the licenses of these operators do not prohibit downstream providers from reselling IP bandwidth to their retail customers. The PTA’s findings indicate that the current slowdown issues are linked to these restrictive practices by wholesale providers.
