IT secretary denies shutdown of internet ‘firewall’ ahead of 5G auction

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Information Technology secretary on Thursday denied reports that the country’s internet “firewall” had been dismantled ahead of the upcoming 5G spectrum auction.

At a National Assembly Standing Committee on Information Technology meeting, Secretary Zarar Hashim said that the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s Web Monitoring System (WMS) was fully operational and neither it nor any firewall had caused delays in internet services.

PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman clarified that the WMS, often colloquially referred to as a firewall, has been in place since 2006, upgraded four times, most recently in 2023.

The system is used to block illegal websites, curb grey traffic, and temporarily restrict social media platforms under government or court directives.

“Our digital borders must also be protected,” Rehman said, noting that cyberattacks originating from India were prevented through the system during past tensions. He said that the WMS does not slow internet services or delay technology operations.

The PTA chairman said that over the past 12 years, Pakistan has held four spectrum auctions, releasing a total of 69 megahertz.

He added that in the upcoming auction, 597 megahertz will be offered, with each participant required to secure at least 100 megahertz.

The chairman said that the additional spectrum will not only pave the way for 5G services in Pakistan but also strengthen and expand 4G coverage nationwide.

The meeting also covered preparations for the 5G spectrum auction, scheduled for March 10, with all three telecom operators – Jazz, Ufone, and Zong – expressing their intent to participate.