Pakistan’s telecom regulator has warned that prolonged power outages are severely affecting mobile and internet services across the country, as officials told a Senate committee that up to eight hours of load shedding has become unsustainable for telecom operators.

During a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom chaired by Senator Sadia Abbasi, officials from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said the shortage of diesel for telecom towers and extended electricity outages are creating major operational challenges for network providers.

PTA officials urged lawmakers to recommend uninterrupted power supply for mobile operators, arguing that reliable electricity is critical for maintaining quality internet and telecom services nationwide. They also revealed that the Power Division is considering providing smart transformers to telecom operators to help address the issue.

Committee members stressed that access to reliable internet has become a basic public requirement, while concerns were also raised about reports of satellite internet usage in remote areas, particularly in Balochistan.

Lawmakers noted that satellite internet operators have yet to receive formal registration from the government, highlighting ongoing regulatory gaps as Pakistan explores the future of next-generation connectivity services.

The discussion comes amid growing public complaints over internet quality and network disruptions, with policymakers facing increasing pressure to strengthen Pakistan’s digital infrastructure.