GSMA expresses concern over internet shutdowns in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA), a global organisation of mobile ecosystem Friday expressed concern over the shutdown of broadband internet in Pakistan.

According to details, the GSMA in an emergency letter to Federal Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haq, the company pressed the Pakistan government to put an end to internet suspension.

The mobile broadband services have remained suspended for a consecutive fourth day in several parts of Pakistan in the wake of the riots erupted by the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday.

The GSMA has said that the suspensions have impacted both consumers and businesses alike.

Prolonged internet outages are causing problems for citizens’ health, education, social and economic well-being, and business and investment in the telecom sector have been severely affected, the GSMA said.

The suspension of mobile broadband internet services from Tuesday has resulted in loss of Rs2.49 billion to Pakistan’s telecom sector.