Welcome to Pakistan, where internet ‘speed’ has become the latest oxymoron. If you’re finding yourself stuck in an endless buffering loop, fret not; you’re not alone. According to the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (WISPAP), the nation’s internet speed has nosedived by a staggering 30-40 per cent.
That’s not just a speed bump; it’s a full-on roadblock. If the internet were any slower, we’d be using carrier pigeons. The root of this digital debacle seems to be increased security and surveillance measures.
Imagine a firewall so comprehensive it turns the internet into a digital sloth. WISPAP has linked the speed issues to increased security and surveillance whose aftermath might result in severe economic consequences as well. By many accounts, the government’s alleged ‘trial run’ of this firewall has morphed into a nightmare for e-commerce and online businesses whose very survival could be at stake.
Meanwhile, the nation’s WhatsApp users are suffering from painfully slow uploads and downloads. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif-led coalition government and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) have remained quiet as millions across the country continue to face trouble accessing internet services due to limited connectivity, particularly while using mobile data in some regions. Not only that, government ministers have not only acknowledged that a firewall trial is going on in the country but also defended it as a cyber.