Pakistan has made a significant leap in advancing its digital infrastructure with the arrival of the Africa-1 submarine cable at Sea View Beach, Karachi, announced Shahzad Arshad, chairperson of the Wireless and Internet Service Providers Association of Pakistan (Wispap).
This milestone, achieved through a consortium of global telecom giants, is expected to ease the country’s bandwidth challenges and strengthen its position in the global digital arena. For the past eight months, Pakistan has faced increased internet latency and bandwidth limitations, which have impacted businesses, enterprises, and freelancers. The Africa-1 cable, a high-capacity subsea system spanning over 10,000 kilometers, is set to address these issues by expanding bandwidth and improving connectivity across the region.
The Africa-1 consortium consists of key telecom players including Mobily (Saudi Arabia), e& (UAE), G42 (UAE), Telecom Egypt, Zain Oman International (ZOI), Algerie Telecom, and TeleYemen. The cable will connect Pakistan to key global markets such as Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, France, Kenya, and Djibouti, further integrating Pakistan into global digital networks.
Industry leaders view the cable’s arrival as a significant boost to Pakistan’s Digital Vision, reinforcing the country’s telecommunications infrastructure and opening up new opportunities for technological advancement. The increased bandwidth is expected to enhance business operations, drive innovation, and improve user experiences, making Pakistan more competitive in the global digital economy.
However, Arshad also raised concerns about market concentration in Pakistan’s international gateway sector, where only two or three dominant players control the market. This monopolistic structure, he explained, results in high prices and restricted service quality. To fully leverage enhanced connectivity, Arshad urged the government, particularly the Ministry of IT & Telecom (MoITT), to take steps to encourage both local and international companies to enter the market and establish multiple gateways. A diversified international gateway ecosystem would lower bandwidth costs and improve service quality for users.
The Africa-1 cable system is expected to become operational in early 2026, bringing faster, more reliable internet and spurring digital transformation across industries such as e-commerce, fintech, education, and healthcare. This enhanced connectivity could also attract foreign investment into Pakistan’s IT and telecom sectors, further promoting economic growth.
As Pakistan moves toward greater digital integration, stakeholders emphasize the importance of equitable access to high-speed internet, ensuring that the benefits of improved connectivity are felt across businesses and consumers nationwide. Addressing the digital divide remains a key priority for ensuring the widespread advantages of this technological advancement.
