Web desk: Pakistan’s internet infrastructure is set for a major upgrade. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has begun work on a large-scale firewall renewal project.
The move aims to strengthen the country’s digital defences and protect critical systems from rising cybersecurity threats.
According to the sources, the PTA has launched the initiative to modernise its cybersecurity setup and improve protection for national telecom networks.
The estimated cost of the project is between Rs 40 million and Rs 120 million. The total amount will depend on the firewall model, subscription duration, and overall scope of the upgrade.
Pakistan Internet Firewall
The new system will give PTA stronger control and visibility over network traffic. It will also help prevent cyberattacks that have become more frequent and sophisticated in recent years.
The renewal plan covers PTA Headquarters as well as all its regional offices.
It includes the installation of next-generation firewalls (NGFWs), renewal of software licenses, and integration with PTA’s data centres and monitoring units.
These new generation firewalls are developed with features of advanced technology like intrusion prevention, web filtering, malware detection, VPN protection and checking.
Collectively, these tools will offer a full-fledged defence against hacking and unauthorised access.
The improved network will also include centralised management consoles to assist in monitoring and controlling data traffic better.
The system will adopt active-passive setups of failovers to maintain consistency in services in case of failure of one of the firewalls.
PTA plans to link the new firewalls with the National Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT). This connection will allow real-time sharing of information about cyber threats and faster response to possible attacks.
Stages
The implementation of the project will be done in phases. It will begin with the evaluation of the current network and the subsequent acquisition and installation of new equipment.
Once completed, the system will be configured and tested, and the PTA staff will be trained to use the new tools.
A post-deployment period will lead to 24/7 technical support and periodic security enhancements.
