KARACHI: The government has set an ambitious target of delivering high-speed broadband to 10 million households by 2029. The initiative aims to provide each household with fixed internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps and improve Pakistan’s position in Ookla’s global speed rankings, with the goal of placing the country among the top 50 nations.
Pakistan is witnessing a critical opportunity to advance toward modern governance through digital technology, but experts warn that the success of this transition depends on the country’s ability to overcome longstanding connectivity challenges, high infrastructure costs, and the slow expansion of Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) services.
The government has set an ambitious target of delivering high-speed broadband to 10 million households by 2029. The initiative aims to provide each household with fixed internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps and improve Pakistan’s position in Ookla’s global speed rankings, with the goal of placing the country among the top 50 nations.
In this regard, the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication (MoITT) is implementing the project through the World Bank–supported Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP), designed to strengthen the digital service delivery capacity of public sector institutions.
The ministry is also seeking to engage a consultancy firm that will identify opportunities for increased private-sector participation within the existing policy framework.
Furthermore, the plan includes an in-depth review of the Administrative Incentive Pricing (AIP) mechanism to determine its effectiveness in ensuring optimal spectrum utilization, expanding backhaul and middle-mile fiber networks, accelerating 4G penetration, and preparing the groundwork for 5G deployment. The review will also address spectrum hoarding concerns and promote long-term investments in fiber infrastructure.
Moreover, Fiber-optic infrastructure expert Taha Owais noted that demand for high-speed internet in urban areas is rising rapidly, yet Pakistan remains near the bottom of global internet speed rankings. He said the country currently has more than 211,000 kilometers of fiber network, but substantial upgrades are required to support businesses and government services transitioning to digital platforms.
Meanwhile, IT exporter Dr. Nauman A. Saeed focused on that FTTH expansion is fundamental to Pakistan’s digital future. “If Pakistan aims to build a future centered on AI, cloud services, and data centers, deep fiberization is essential,” he said.
He cautioned that the country still faces major hurdles, including fragmented infrastructure, high investment costs, limited FTTH adoption, inefficient spectrum management, the need for deep-sea fiber connectivity, and significant cybersecurity risks.
So far, IT exporter Saad Shah added that fast and reliable internet will not only accelerate national digitalization but also strengthen the global reputation of Pakistan’s outsourcing industry.
