Internet Users in Pakistan to Face Disruption During Peak Hours

Concerns are growing among internet users in Pakistan after Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) confirmed a fresh disruption caused by faults in two major undersea internet cables near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The company said the issue, which has impacted bandwidth on key international routes, may lead to slower browsing speeds and connectivity challenges, particularly during peak usage hours.

The fault has affected both the South Asia-Middle East-West Asia (SMW4) and IMEWE (India-Middle East-Western Europe) submarine cable systems. These undersea connections carry a significant share of Pakistan’s international traffic, which means PTCL users and subscribers of other internet providers dependent on the same routes could face temporary slowdowns.

PTCL Internet Teams Seek Alternatives for Connectivity

A spokesperson for PTCL Group acknowledged the disruption but assured that efforts were already underway to control the damage. “Our international partners are prioritising the repair process, and PTCL’s local teams are working to arrange alternate bandwidth,” the statement said. According to the company, this contingency plan aims to reduce the strain on the network and maintain a reasonable quality of service for customers.

For millions relying on PTCL internet for work, education, and entertainment, the development comes as an unwelcome repeat of past issues. Earlier this year, a separate fault in the AAE-1 submarine cable near Qatar caused widespread disruptions, marking the second time in just months that users across Pakistan experienced difficulties due to fragile global infrastructure.

Industry experts note that such disruptions highlight the dependency of Pakistan’s connectivity on a limited number of undersea internet cables. While PTCL and other service providers often promise redundancy through alternate routes, simultaneous faults or delays in international repairs can leave internet users in Pakistan vulnerable to frequent slowdowns.

PTCL Users Brace for Impact

The company has not shared a clear timeline for when the repairs will be completed. Until then, PTCL users have been advised to expect variations in speed during high-demand hours. Social media is already filled with complaints, with customers expressing frustration over repeated outages and the lack of long-term solutions.

As Pakistan’s digital economy grows, the recurring impact of submarine cable issues raises bigger questions about resilience. Experts argue that investing in more diverse routes and building redundancy is crucial if Pakistan wants to secure uninterrupted connectivity for businesses and individuals alike.

For now, PTCL internet subscribers and other internet users in Pakistan must brace for potential slow speeds, hoping that international repair teams can restore the damaged lines swiftly.