By Ijaz Kakakhel

The Universal Service Fund (USF) management has observed serious internet and telecom connectivity challenges in Upper and Lower Chitral districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during a field visit, according to a document available with Wealth Pakistan.

According to the Fund, difficult terrain, frequent fiber cuts, and infrastructure damage continue to affect the quality of telecommunications services in the region.

The USF team visited Chitral from July 4 to July 12 to assess network performance at the direction of the Senate Standing Committee on Less Developed Areas. Engineers, field operations staff, and representatives of the service provider accompanied the team to inspect telecom sites and verify operational issues through real-time performance data.

The team found that the mountainous geography of Chitral remains one of the biggest obstacles to reliable internet connectivity. Many Base Transceiver Station (BTS) sites are located on high-altitude mountains that can only be reached after hours of travel over unpaved, unstable tracks, making maintenance and emergency repairs difficult and time-consuming.

The team also identified inadequate backhaul connectivity as a major concern. Officials noted that fiber-optic backhaul is the backbone of high-speed internet services, carrying massive volumes of data while preventing network congestion. However, weak and vulnerable backhaul infrastructure continues to limit the reliability and quality of broadband services across the district.

One of the most alarming findings was the high number of fiber-optic cable cuts. According to the report, more than 100 fiber cuts were recorded during the last six months, including over 30 incidents in the previous three months alone. During the team's visit, a fiber cut disrupted services at more than 70 telecom sites for over eight hours, demonstrating the fragility of the network.

Road construction activities were identified as another major factor behind repeated service disruptions. Excavation work has damaged buried fiber cables in several locations, while in some areas, cables were found exposed on the surface rather than properly buried underground. Officials observed that the absence of alternate routing or a ring network architecture means a single cable cut can completely disconnect multiple telecom sites.

The report also pointed to severe logistical challenges in maintaining telecom infrastructure. Several sites are accessible only by crossing rivers on makeshift log bridges, posing safety risks for technical teams. In many locations, there is no vehicle access to the final stretch, forcing engineers to carry equipment and spare parts uphill on foot for repair and maintenance.

Community and land access issues have further complicated operations. The USF team noted that in some areas local communities control access routes to telecom sites and reportedly charge transporters significant amounts to deliver diesel fuel required for backup power systems. Such delays reduce generator backup time and contribute to prolonged network outages.

Despite these challenges, the USF highlighted its substantial investment in Chitral's telecom infrastructure over the past decade. Through Rural Telephony and e-Services, Next Generation Broadband for Sustainable Development, and optical fiber cable projects, hundreds of previously unserved villages have been connected with voice and broadband services, while extensive fiber-optic networks have been laid across the district.

Following the visit, the USF management engaged its service provider — formerly Telenor, now part of Ufone —to discuss operational shortcomings and improve service quality. The organization also plans to coordinate with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and relevant government departments to address recurring fiber cuts, improve coordination during road construction, resolve land access issues, and ensure sustainable telecom connectivity for the people of Upper and Lower Chitral.

Credit: INP-WealthPk