Pakistan's Internet Speed Rises 60% as Fibre and Spectrum Expansion Accelerates

Pakistan's internet speeds have increased by 60 percent over the past two and a half years, while fibre-optic connectivity has more than doubled, according to Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja. Speaking at the Margalla Dialogue on Tuesday, the minister outlined a series of infrastructure milestones aimed at strengthening the country's digital backbone.

Khawaja said national internet data usage has risen by two terabits per second, lifting Pakistan's total live internet capacity to roughly seven terabits per second. She noted that two additional submarine cables have been added to improve international connectivity, while the country's fibre-optic network has expanded from three million connections to more than six million.

On the mobile side, the minister said Pakistan has completed the largest spectrum auction in its history, offering 480 MHz. The move raised the country's total available spectrum from 274 MHz to more than 750 MHz, a significant increase in capacity that operators can use to improve coverage and data speeds. She added that 5G services are now live, with around 1.8 million users already subscribed.

Turning to artificial intelligence, Khawaja said the technology could grow into a $4.8 trillion global economy by 2033. She argued that AI will transform jobs rather than eliminate them, and that workers who adopt the technology could become up to 100 times more productive than peers with similar skills. She urged citizens to acquire new digital skills to remain competitive as adoption expands.

The minister reiterated the government's commitment to the Digital Nation Pakistan vision and to broadening the country's digital infrastructure. The figures shared at the event suggest sustained investment in connectivity and spectrum, though continued progress will depend on execution and private-sector participation.

For consumers, the reported gains point to faster downloads, better coverage and wider availability of high-speed services in the coming years. Analysts say reliable connectivity and expanded spectrum are central to Pakistan's digital economy, from e-commerce and freelancing to online education and public services.