Internet Speeds in Pakistan: Why Are We Still Behind?

(from buffering biryani videos to “server not found” during PSL — the struggle is real, and so are the reasons)

“the internet is just electricity that learned to gossip — when it stutters, the whole country forgets the punchline.” —Huzi

Below is the unedited street report: why your Netflix still buffers, why your Zoom freezes mid-presentation, and what you can actually do without selling a kidney for fiber. No jargon, no corporate hugs — just real speeds, real prices, and real fixes you can try before your next chai gets cold.

🐌 The Big Picture: Where We Stand (spoiler: not on the podium)

• Mobile speed: ~25 Mbps average — rank 98th globally ( India = 27th, Sri Lanka = 78th )
• Home broadband: ~18 Mbps average — rank 144th globally ( world average = 100 Mbps )
• Reality check: a 1 GB update takes 7 minutes — same file takes 1 minute in UAE, 2 minutes in India

Dad-joke: Why did the download break up with Pakistan? → It said, “I need space — and you don’t have enough Mbps.”

🔍 ISP Face-Off: Who’s Fast, Who’s Faking It?

1. Transworld Home — “the speed demon, but picky about postcodes”

   • Speed: up to 100 Mbps ( symmetrical = upload = download )
   • Price: ₨4,500/month (100 Mbps) — no hidden taxes, no “session charges” drama
   • Coverage: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad only — if you live in “phase 7”, forget it
   • Real life: I streamed “Stranger Things” in 4K — zero buffer, zero regret
   • Con: limited cities — if you move to “Gujranwala suburbs”, you’re back to PTCL pity

2. Nayatel — “the reliable uncle, never late to dinner”

   • Speed: up to 150 Mbps ( symmetrical )
   • Price: ₨5,200/month (100 Mbps) — includes free IVOD ( Netflix-like app )
   • Coverage: Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Lahore — underground cables = no rain drama
   • Real life: my cousin runs Zoom classes — zero drop, zero “can you hear me?”
   • Con: expensive vs PTCL, but “you get what you pay for” is real here

3. StormFiber — “the new kid, but hungry for customers”

   • Speed: up to 150 Mbps ( symmetrical )
   • Price: ₨4,000/month (100 Mbps) — often gives free TV channels as bribe
   • Coverage: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar — expanding faster than “new Bahria phase”
   • Real life: my friend runs YouTube channel — uploads 4K videos in 12 minutes
   • Con: customer service = “okay-ish” — not as fast as Nayatel, but better than PTCL

4. PTCL Flash Fiber — “the grandpa who learned to jog, but still forgets his keys”

   • Speed: up to 100 Mbps ( upload = half download )
   • Price: ₨3,200/month (100 Mbps) — cheapest, but “you get what you pay for” is painfully real
   • Coverage: nationwide — even “village near Multan” has it
   • Real life: works great at 3 a.m., struggles at 8 p.m. — peak-hour = peak-pain
   • Con: customer service = “hold music from 1998” — complaint closed without solution

5. Optix — “the speed bullet, but only in Karachi & Lahore”

   • Speed: up to 150 Mbps ( symmetrical )
   • Price: ₨4,000/month (100 Mbps) — competitive, no hidden charges
   • Coverage: Karachi, Lahore only — if you live in “Gujrat”, forget it
   • Real life: I tested Call of Duty — ping = 12 ms, no lag, no “rage quit”
   • Con: limited cities, but “if you’re in coverage, you’re golden”

🔧 Why We’re Still Slow — The Real Reasons (no jargon, just juice)

1. Copper Cables = Grandpa’s Landline PTCL still uses copper in many areas — designed for voice, not Netflix — speed drops like “sugar in chai” during rain Fix: demand FTTH (fiber) upgrade — free in most areas, but you have to ask (and ask again)

2. Peak-Hour Traffic Jam 8–11 p.m. = everyone streams — bandwidth = shared highway, you crawl when neighbours crawl Fix: opt for “higher Mbps” than you need — 100 Mbps plan = 70 Mbps real, but better than 30 Mbps

3. Submarine Cable Hiccups Under-sea cables near Jeddah — break every few months → whole country slows Fix: keep mobile data backup, download movies during off-peak, don’t stream during cable-repair weeks

4. Router in Closet = Speed in Coffin Router behind TV/cupboard = signal death — wi-fi is like plant: needs air, not wood Fix: place router in open hall, height = 5–6 feet, away from microwave/Bluetooth speakers

5. Customer Service = Hold Music from 1998 PTCL complaint = 45 min hold — Nayatel = 6 min — StormFiber = 15 min Fix: use Twitter DM — public complaints get faster replies than private calls

💡 Quick Home-Fix Cheat-Sheet (no engineer, no money)

🎯 30-Day Speed-Boost Challenge (fridge-magnet worthy)

🌱 Final Byte

Slow internet isn’t destiny — it’s design flaws + peak habits + old wires. Ask for fiber, restart like you restart your life, and remember: if your Netflix buffers, your dreams don’t have to.

Upgrade the router, upgrade the routine, upgrade the dream.

Keep the signal high and the loading circle low, —Huzi blogs.huzi.pk