Under the world’s oceans, submarine fibre-optic cables are quietly shaping Pakistan’s place in the global digital economy.

These underwater cables carry almost all international internet traffic, connecting continents, financial centres, cloud platforms, and data hubs.

Today, economies rely on them for trade, communication, and innovation.

Countries on these key routes can gain long-term strategic and economic benefits, while those that do not risk depending on others for global connectivity.

Pakistan occupies a geographically important location in this global subsea network, yet its role remains limited, compared with its potential.

Situated between South Asia, the Middle East, Central Asia, and Western China, Pakistan lies close to some of the busiest data corridors in the world.

Its coastline along the Arabian Sea provides a natural entry point for submarine cables linking Asia with the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.

Despite this, Pakistan is still largely treated as an end market rather than a transit or aggregation hub for international traffic.

Globally, the demand for subsea connectivity continues to grow at a rapid pace.

Cloud computing, video streaming, artificial intelligence, financial services, and cross-border enterprise networks all require high-capacity and low-latency international links.

This has led to a steady expansion of new cable systems and landing points, particularly in locations that offer political stability, open access, reliable power, and strong terrestrial networks.

Cities such as Singapore, Hong Kong, Marseille, London, and Fujairah have become major digital hubs not only because of geography, but because policy and infrastructure choices made them attractive to the global investors and network operators.

Pakistan’s geographic advantage is, therefore, only part of the equation.

The country already hosts several submarine cable landings, mainly concentrated around Karachi.

These systems connect Pakistan to the Middle East, South Asia, and onward to Europe and East Asia.

From a physical perspective, Pakistan could serve as a bridge between regions that are otherwise separated by long and congested routes.

It could also provide route diversity for global carriers looking to reduce dependence on a small number of traditional hubs and chokepoints.

Domestic demand further strengthens this opportunity. With a population exceeding 240 million and rapidly growing internet usage, Pakistan’s need for international bandwidth continues to rise.

Mobile broadband adoption, digital payments, online content consumption, and enterprise connectivity requirements are expanding year after year.

Regional demand also matters. Neighbouring and nearby markets, including landlocked countries, increasingly require reliable and cost-effective access to global networks.

Pakistan could, in theory, meet some of this demand by positioning itself as a regional gateway.

However, several constraints continue to limit Pakistan’s ability to play a larger role in global subsea connectivity.

One of the most significant challenges lies in policy and regulation. International cable investors and global carriers prefer markets where licensing processes are clear, predictable, and timely.

In Pakistan, regulatory procedures related to cable landings, access permissions, and international connectivity can be complex and slow.

This uncertainty discourages long-term investment and makes it difficult for Pakistan to compete with more streamlined jurisdictions.

Another issue is access. Successful subsea hubs are built around open and non-discriminatory access to cable landing stations and terrestrial fibre networks.

Where access is restricted or dominated by a small number of players, costs rise, and competition suffers.

This affects not only international operators but also domestic businesses that depend on affordable and reliable connectivity.

Terrestrial infrastructure presents another challenge. Subsea cables do not create value on their own.

Traffic must move efficiently from landing stations to data centres, cities, and cross-border links.

While Pakistan’s domestic fibre network has improved over time, gaps remain in redundancy, route diversity, and international integration.

Limited high-capacity links towards Central Asia and Western China reduce Pakistan’s ability to function as a transit corridor rather than a final destination.

Network resilience is also a concern. International customers expect multiple layers of redundancy to protect against cable cuts, power failures, and other disruptions.

Past incidents have shown that Pakistan’s international connectivity can be vulnerable to single points of failure.

For global carriers and hyperscalers, resilience is not optional.

Without it, Pakistan struggles to compete with established hubs that offer higher levels of reliability.

Beyond cables and fibre, digital ecosystems matter. Global connectivity hubs usually have strong data centre markets, carrier-neutral facilities, internet exchanges, and cloud on-ramps.

Pakistan’s data centre sector is still developing and remains small compared with the regional peers.

Without large-scale, neutral data centres, there is little incentive for international traffic to stay local.

Instead, data is often carried onward to hubs such as Dubai or Singapore, where richer interconnection environments exist.

Commercial coordination is another weak point. Subsea connectivity requires alignment between government bodies, regulators, telecom operators, infrastructure providers, and international partners.

In Pakistan, efforts are often fragmented, with limited coordination around a shared national vision.

As a result, opportunities are pursued individually rather than as part of a long-term strategy to position the country as a digital transit hub.

The perspective of professionals working directly in global networks highlights both the promise and the limitations of Pakistan’s current position.

Humayun Khan, Deputy General Manager Global Business at Exponentia Global, and an International Networks and Subsea Cables Strategist, works from Karachi while managing international connectivity relationships across multiple regions.

With more than 15 years of experience in submarine cables, international carrier networks, and low-latency optical transport systems, his work reflects how Pakistan is already connected to the global telecom ecosystem at a professional and operational level.

According to him, “Pakistan is already part of the global telecom network, with connections to major hubs like Hong Kong, Singapore, Fujairah, and Marseille. Yet, while international carriers see the potential in emerging markets like ours, Pakistan is rarely a key choice for routing. To become a strategic hub rather than a peripheral node, we need affordable services, reliable infrastructure, and clear regulations that give international operators confidence in using Pakistan as a preferred route.”

His focus on linking strategic hubs demonstrates where Pakistan could add value if the right conditions existed.

His experience with global carriers and hyperscalers shows that interest in diverse routes and emerging markets is real, but it is always conditional on cost, reliability, and regulatory clarity. Pakistan appears on the map, but it rarely sits at the centre of routing decisions.

This gap between potential and reality defines Pakistan’s current position in global subsea connectivity.

The country has geography, demand, and technical talent on its side. What it lacks is a coordinated approach that treats international connectivity as a strategic national asset rather than a narrow telecom issue.

If these constraints were addressed, Pakistan could realistically develop into a secondary regional hub, offering alternative routes between Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.

It could provide digital access for landlocked neighbours, attract regional data centre investment, and improve the resilience of global networks.

The economic benefits would extend beyond connectivity itself, supporting digital services, foreign investment, and skilled employment.

Ultimately, subsea connectivity shapes how countries participate in the global digital economy.

Nations that invest early and wisely gain influence and resilience that lasts for decades.

With deliberate policy reform, infrastructure investment, and strategic coordination, Pakistan can move from the edge of the global subsea map towards a more central and influential role.

The opportunity exists, but it will only be realised through sustained and focused action.

The writer is a seasoned journalist and a communications professional.

He can be reached at [email protected]