CHITRAL: In today’s digital world, internet access has become a necessity. From online business and banking to remote communication and entertainment, daily life is increasingly dependent on reliable internet connectivity—even children are left restless when their online games disconnect.

Unfortunately, in Chitral, internet service remains highly unreliable. PTCL, the region’s sole fiber internet provider, continues to deliver poor performance. Most recently, the internet was completely down for 17 hours. In a fast-paced, connected world, such prolonged outages are unacceptable, yet in Pakistan—and particularly in remote regions like Chitral—they are all too common.

However, there is a silver lining. Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet is expected to launch in Pakistan by the end of this year. While this announcement might not stir much interest in well-connected cities, for the people of Chitral, it offers real hope. A satellite-based system, free from the inefficiencies of local telecom monopolies, could finally bring consistent, high-speed internet to this underserved region.  — CN Report, 20 July 2025