KARACHI: Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has brought the Africa-1 submarine cable ashore at its landing station in Karachi, it announced in a statement on Saturday, enhancing Pakistan’s connectivity with Saudi Arabia and other global digital hubs.
The 10,000-kilometer Africa-1 cable, a consortium-backed ultra-high-capacity system, aims to bolster international bandwidth and support Pakistan’s growing digital infrastructure.
The system will link the country with key locations in the Middle East and beyond, including countries like Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Sudan, Algeria, France, Kenya and Djibouti.
“PTCL is proud to be a part of the Africa-1 cable system consortium. This partnership aligns seamlessly with Pakistan’s Digital Vision 2030 and our commitment to empowering the communities by bridging the digital divide,” said Syed Muhammad Shoaib, Group Vice President of International Business at PTCL.
“By establishing strong, reliable connections to key international hubs, PTCL aims to provide faster, world-class Internet services enabling innovation across sectors and strengthening Pakistan’s position in the global economy,” he added.
The consortium includes major regional telecom operators such as Saudi Arabia’s Mobily, UAE’s e& and G42, Telecom Egypt, Zain Oman International (ZOI), Algérie Télécom and TeleYemen. The system employs state-of-the-art technologies to enhance data transmission speeds and reliability.
The cable’s landing in Karachi is expected to further strengthen Pakistan’s role as a regional digital hub. It will be terminated at PTCL’s Misrishah Exchange in DHA Phase-VI, Karachi.
Once operational in early 2026, the Africa-1 system is expected to significantly enhance PTCL’s Internet services and support the country’s economic growth by providing improved global connectivity.
The development comes amid increasing demand for reliable high-speed Internet services in Pakistan, driven by digital transformation efforts across sectors including finance, e-commerce and information technology.
PTCL lands Africa-1 submarine cable in Karachi, enhancing connectivity with Saudi Arabia, other countries
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PTCL lands Africa-1 submarine cable in Karachi, enhancing connectivity with Saudi Arabia, other countries
- Development comes amid increasing demand for reliable Internet services in Pakistan
- The Africa-1 cable offers a consortium-backed ultra-high-capacity connectivity system
Pakistan, Afghanistan border clashes kill 5, officials say
- Afghanistan and Pakistan trade blame for “unprovoked firing” along Chaman-Spin Boldak border
- Exchange takes place nearly a week after a fresh round of peace talks between neighbors failed
KABUL: Pakistan and Afghanistan exchanged heavy fire along their border late on Friday, officials from both countries said, killing at least five people amid heightened tensions following failed peace talks last weekend.
Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Pakistani forces launched attacks in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province.
His deputy Hamdullah Fitra told Reuters that shelling by Pakistan killed five people, including a Taliban member.
A spokesman for Pakistan’s prime minister said Afghan forces carried out “unprovoked firing” along the Chaman border.
“Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to ensuring its territorial integrity and the safety of our citizens,” spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi said in a statement.
The exchange came nearly a week after a new round of peace talks between the South Asian neighbors ended without a breakthrough, although both sides agreed to continue their fragile ceasefire.
The talks in Saudi Arabia last weekend were the latest in a series of meetings hosted by Qatar, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia to cool tensions following deadly border clashes in October.
At the heart of the dispute, Islamabad says Afghan-based militants have carried out recent attacks in Pakistan, including suicide bombings involving Afghan nationals. Kabul denied the charge, saying it could not be held responsible for security inside Pakistan.
Dozens were killed in October’s clashes, the worst violence on the border since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021.
