Pakistan Internet Cables primer

Pakistan has currently 8 operational cables bringing internet into the country of which 6 are undersea and 2 are overland. Undersea cables belong to a large consortium with a local partner in Pakistan who all share charges according to use. They cost around $25,000 a kilometer so are not cheap. Our two overseas cables are the two routes of Pak-China cable whose route is estimated as information about them is very scarce. The existing 6 cables bring a total of 9+ terabits/second capacity into Pakistan which is Pakistan's total available internet capacity. Pakistan's need is around 6 terabits/second so we have enough capacity for our daily needs. Obviously capacity is further handed down to ISP's and goes through long haul and metro networks etc adding a lot of complication to optimally delivering it so it may not seem we have so much excess capacity but generally we all get what we pay for in terms of our packages. Geography also plays a part. You need long haul to get to mountains which is very expensive and they would be better served by Starlink satellites. Now unfortunately a few weeks ago AAE-1 went down near Oman under 4 km of Arabian Sea. This is our biggest cable probably carrying 3 terabits/second. So now we are running neck and neck with capacity and country need. So there will be hours you will feel the pinch. Worse as some servers are optimally placed according to some cables those will be a few more hops away slowing their response. Basically increased latency. One cable being down should not slow the country down though. So much economic risk. What can we do?

Exports alone can’t save us. FDI doesn’t want to come in to country. The best most educated people who should build businesses here want to leave. Both require structural reforms to fix. Fixing both is critical to laying the foundation for a country that has a chance 🧵 FDI building blocks:
* Political stability
* Poverty alleviation & creation of large middle class
* Structural reforms to open economy
* Conducive Tax/labor regulations
* Reduce regulatory risk
* Digitize govt to reduce bureaucratic discretion + corruption
* Better Infrastructure

1/n I would like to congratulate @KhurramHusain for editing and authorizing the absolutely worst business article of 2022. Let us take a deep dive into why this is a shamelessly trite and unacceptable content hit peace that no professional editor would ok profit.pakistantoday.com.pk/2022/07/25/new… "According to a high-ranking source, FinTech startup was at risk of action by FIA" - Which sources? Did you corroborate with FIA? Any legal citizen is at risk of action by FIA. Wtf does that even mean? Entire article is based on dubious sourcing who could have any motive!

1/n There is a serious security issue at Standard Chartered Pakistan @StanChartMENAP - If you are a Standard Chartered Customer or know a Standard Chartered customer please read this.

In a matter of minutes people have lost 54,000 to 72,000 rupees The withdrawals typically happen in multiple transactions on your debit card. Transactions often happen on the Apple store. Sometimes on Uber. THERE ARE NO OTP's for you to enter!!! You just lose your money *BOOM* - This has been happening for months and Standard Chartered...

1/n Discussions on PTI's economic performance are important. They were not perfect. Specifically my views on the performance of energy ministry have been clear. However on digital side some things happened that are not talked about enough that PTI should be proud of SBP amendments on holding companies that allowed for SAFE agreements (loans that converted into equity) were one of the biggest reasons for the startup boom. These regulations made it possible for companies to functionally invest in Pakistani startups.

1/n An obituary of @Careem:

Careem the startup that transformed mobility in Pakistan with flawless execution, an incredible work culture who genuinely delighted customers and a brand so authentic and powerful that it became a part of urban vernacular (Careem it bro) is no more. No company has quite lost its luster like Careem. A few months after a lucrative 3B USD sale to Uber closed they fired 31% of their workforce. Since then they have lost that excellence in their core ride business. Their payment business failed....

1/n Dear @ImranKhanPTI sir an appeal. Dubai, Singapore & Estonia are considered leaders in digital government in the world. Some of Dubai's most far reaching, impactful digital goverment projects have been done by a most capable Pakistani, Dr Sohail Munir. 2/n I had the pleasure to meet Dr Sohail many years earlier when as a younger man he built one of the most advanced Data Centers in the world for our military, one which is still operational today. I was blown away by his competence & humility & followed his stellar career.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has been arrested over the LNG deal. In this thread I will put forth all facts I know related to LNG deal so you understand this issue in its full context and understand what this man achieved and what it meant for the country (Warning: Very long thread) Progressive ideas in Pakistan never reach fruition owing to mishandling or corruption. Creating an LNG ecosystem to get desperately needed gas for Pakistan’s economic prosperity was destined to be consigned to the same dustbin of failure; until SKA got involved.