Pakistan, the world’s fifth most populous country, suffered the highest financial losses globally in 2024 due to internet and social media app shutdowns, amounting to an astonishing $1.62 billion. This comes as the government intensifies its efforts to regulate digital spaces.
These losses exceeded those of war-affected nations like Sudan and Myanmar. According to a report by an independent VPN review platform, the global economic impact of internet disruptions this year was estimated at $7.69 billion.
Read more: PTCL Working to Resolve Internet Disruptions Due to Cable Fault
Recent internet disruptions lasted a total of 88,788 hours across more than 24 countries, including Pakistan, where millions are still experiencing slow internet speeds due to a submarine cable fault.
The VPN report revealed a 12% increase in disruption durations compared to last year, when shutdowns in 25 nations resulted in $9.01 billion in losses over 79,238 hours.
In South Asia, the report identified 18 shutdowns in 2024, mainly linked to elections, protests, and information control, affecting millions. It also highlighted a year-long ban on social media platform X, which remains inaccessible without a proxy.
Additionally, platforms such as TikTok (restricted for 8,115 hours), Signal (2,880 hours), Facebook (2,091 hours), and Instagram (2,010 hours) faced significant restrictions in various regions worldwide.
