January 14, 2025 - Comments Off on Telecom Infrastructure, not Firewall, Cause of slow internet: PTA

Telecom Infrastructure, not Firewall, Cause of slow internet: PTA

Pakistan’s Web Management System WMS) or “Firewall” is not responsible for slow internet or internet disruptions, according to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) – rather, the shoddy state of telecommunications infrastructure is to blame. According to PTA documents, more than 21,000 sites related to nationwide telecommunication infrastructure suffers from or are susceptible to  power outages and load-shedding, owing to a lack of generators (required for backup in the case of power failure). Further to this, more than 739 physical sites have fallen victim to theft, with generators and other equipment stolen, 147 sites being hit by terrorists over a five year period.

On the other hand, according to the PTA documentation, the WMS, or more accurately earlier incarnations of it, have not caused internet speed to be impacted – a claim that would raise eyebrows of many over the past six months or so.

Published by: Digital Rights Foundation in Digital Rights Tracker

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