The Telecom Operators Association (TOA) has called on the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to provide an explanation for the nationwide internet outage that occurred on Sunday. Expressing concern, TOA highlighted the potential negative impact of access censorship measures on the government’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) growth ambitions.

In a letter addressed to PTA Chairman Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman, TOA conveyed the challenges faced by the people of Pakistan during the recent internet outage. Social media platforms like Instagram, X, YouTube, and Facebook were inaccessible, and internet throttling resulted in a significant decline in user experience across the country. This incident follows a similar setback on December 17, 2023.

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TOA emphasized its support for the government’s initiatives to position Pakistan as a key ICT hub, facilitating IT exports, attracting foreign direct investment, and advancing the country’s digital journey. The letter underscored the telecom sector’s vital role in these endeavors and expressed concern that access censorship measures could undermine the government’s growth ambitions and negatively impact Pakistan’s international image.

The telecom operators faced an influx of inquiries from customers seeking information and urging the swift restoration of access during the outage. TOA pointed out that such disruptions lead to consumer dissatisfaction and outcry, affecting lives, businesses, national productivity, and tarnishing the country’s image.

Highlighting the crucial role of digital connectivity in today’s world, TOA urged the PTA to investigate the events of the internet outage and take measures to prevent such disruptions in the future. The association also called on the regulator to issue a detailed clarification statement regarding the incident and outline preventive measures to ensure the stability of internet services.