Pakistan May Face More Internet Disruptions as PTA Upgrades its Web Monitoring System

Pakistan’s telecommunications regulator, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), is currently upgrading its Web Monitoring System (WMS), which is causing internet disruptions for users leading up to the parliamentary election scheduled for February 8, as per a report by Geo News. The director general of PTA, Ahmed Shamim Pirzada, attributes recent internet slowdowns to technical glitches during the software update.

What is the Web Monitoring System?

The Web Monitoring System (WMS), purchased in December 2018 for $18 million from Canadian firm Sandvine, is a comprehensive surveillance system utilizing Deep Packet Inspection technology. It enables the PTA to implement gateway-level blocking and censorship, directly impacting internet traffic.

Inconsistencies and Concerns

Digital rights activist Usama Khilji questions the PTA’s response, citing inconsistencies. While the PTA initially blames telecom operators for disruptions, Khilji asserts that the WMS deployment is solely controlled by the PTA. The timing of the upgrade, amid election preparations, raises concerns about accessibility to crucial election information for Pakistani voters.

Deployment Explanation and Criticism

The PTA claims the Web Monitoring System (WMS) upgrade, ongoing since December 2023, is necessary to comply with court orders related to objectionable internet content. However, Khilji questions the timing, suggesting the upgrade could have been done during the coalition government’s tenure or when the caretaker government was in power.

Impact on Election Day

Internet disruptions on election day could lead to delays in result compilation, according to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). While the ECP has requested uninterrupted internet supply, they have a contingency plan in place. The newly-launched Election Management System can run offline, allowing presiding officers to compile results on Form-45. In case of no internet, presiding officers will photograph the form and physically deliver it to the returning officer.

Contingency Measures by Election Commission

The ECP’s Project Management Unit is coordinating with the PTA to ensure uninterrupted internet supply. In the event of mobile service suspension, the ECP plans to maintain a manual record of results on Microsoft Excel sheets. Presiding officers are instructed to physically deliver results to the returning officer’s office if needed, ensuring a record of the time and location of each submission.

As Pakistan grapples with internet disruptions due to the Web Monitoring System (WMS) upgrade, concerns arise about the impact on the upcoming parliamentary election. The PTA’s explanation of technical glitches and the timing of the upgrade raises questions, while the ECP implements contingency plans to mitigate potential challenges on election day.