PTCL’s connection to its landing station at Seaview in Karachi via the Africa-1 Submarine Cable has commenced. The project, which was approved in 2020 and would cost $59.5 million, is intended to improve connection between the UAE, Africa, and Europe. By early 2026, it should be prepared to be used.
After the cable is connected, it will take approximately one year to construct the necessary infrastructure and install the necessary equipment for the operational rollout of the cable throughout Pakistan. After Transworld Associates’ December installation of the Africa-2 cable, this is the second underwater cable to pass through Karachi in recent months.
For the development of Pakistan’s digital infrastructure, the additional capacity from Africa-1 is considered crucial, as the country’s internet now depends on six cables. According to experts, it will make the internet faster, lessen latency, and increase redundancy. The wholesale cost of internet bandwidth, however, is still far greater than in nearby nations, and there has been a need for steep price cuts.
The experts agree that Pakistan might improve its internet speed ranking and increase its IT exports with more bandwidth, but they also say that improved policies, such as tax reforms and incentives, are needed to make the most of this opportunity. In spite of obstacles, this project shows that Pakistan’s digital ecosystem is getting stronger.
