Pakistan continues to grapple with slow internet speeds, ranking among the lowest in the world for both mobile and broadband connectivity, as highlighted by Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index.
As reported on Tuesday, data from October places Pakistan 100th out of 111 nations in mobile internet speed and 141st out of 158 for broadband performance.
Users have reported persistent issues, including sluggish downloads on apps like WhatsApp and frequent connectivity disruptions.
Concerns are growing over the country’s digital infrastructure, compounded by recurring internet outages and tighter restrictions on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which many rely on to access blocked platforms like X (formerly Twitter).
According to the World Population Review, Pakistan’s average download speed stands at just 7.85 Mbps, while median speeds for mobile and broadband are 19.59 Mbps and 15.52 Mbps, respectively.
Although the government has announced plans to upgrade its cybersecurity framework through a “web management system,” rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have urged authorities to ensure greater transparency about the internet slowdown and its connection to monitoring technologies.
Earlier, Pakistan experienced significant economic damage of $2.2 million per hour whenever the internet is temporarily shut down, according to Tufail Khan, President of the Pakistan Freelancers Association, citing data from Netblocks.
Netblocks, an organization that gathers information from institutions such as the World Bank, International Telecommunication Union, and Eurostat, monitor internet stability and tracks outages in real-time.
Khan highlighted that internet disruptions particularly affect delivery workers, IT professionals, and ride-hailing services.
