Pakistan Boosts Digital Infrastructure with Arrival of Africa-1 Submarine Cable

Karachi – Pakistan is making significant strides in enhancing its digital infrastructure with the recent landing of the Africa-1 submarine cable at Sea View Beach, Karachi. Shahzad Arshad, Chairperson of the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (Wispap), hailed the milestone as a major advancement in addressing the country’s bandwidth challenges.

The Africa-1 cable, spanning over 10,000 kilometers, is a high-capacity undersea system that will greatly improve Pakistan’s internet connectivity. The cable is expected to resolve ongoing issues of increased internet latency and bandwidth limitations that have affected businesses, freelancers, and enterprises for the past eight months.

Arshad emphasized that the arrival of the Africa-1 cable, supported by a consortium of global telecom giants including Mobily (Saudi Arabia), e& (UAE), G42 (UAE), Telecom Egypt, Zain Oman International, Algerie Telecom, and TeleYemen, will alleviate these connectivity problems. He noted that the cable system will link Pakistan to key markets in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, France, Kenya, and Djibouti, positioning the country more competitively in the global digital landscape.

“This expansion in bandwidth will not only enhance business operations but also spur innovation and improve user experiences, contributing to Pakistan’s Digital Vision,” said Arshad. He added that the new cable will help integrate Pakistan more closely with global networks, fostering opportunities for technological growth in various sectors.

However, Arshad expressed concerns regarding market concentration in Pakistan’s international gateway sector, which is currently dominated by just two or three players. He called for action from the Ministry of IT & Telecom (MoITT) to encourage both local and international companies to enter the market and establish multiple gateways, which would help lower bandwidth costs and improve service quality across the nation.

Read more: Dur-e-Fishan Saleem’s glamorous saree look breaks the internet

Set to become operational by early 2026, the Africa-1 submarine cable promises to bring faster, more reliable internet access, which is expected to catalyze digital transformation in critical sectors such as e-commerce, fintech, education, and healthcare. The improved connectivity could also attract foreign investment into Pakistan’s IT and telecom industries, contributing to economic growth.

As Pakistan progresses toward greater digital integration, stakeholders are emphasizing the importance of ensuring equitable access to high-speed internet nationwide. Addressing the digital divide remains a priority, ensuring that the benefits of improved connectivity are felt across the country.