internet slow in Pakistan Internet Slow in Pakistan: PTCL Begins Major Undersea Cable Repairs, Connectivity May Be Affected Nationwide
ISLAMABAD: Millions of internet users across Pakistan are likely to experience slower speeds and intermittent connectivity issues today as the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) begins essential repair work on a key segment of the country’s undersea communication network.
According to an official statement from PTCL, the maintenance is part of a scheduled international operation involving the submarine cable consortium that manages Pakistan’s global internet links. The operation aims to fix a malfunctioning repeater — a critical component responsible for maintaining signal strength across vast underwater distances.
internet slow in Pakistan Scheduled Maintenance and Duration
The repair work began at 11:00 a.m. on October 14, 2025, and is expected to continue for up to 18 hours, during which internet users across Pakistan may experience reduced browsing speeds, buffering during streaming, and occasional connectivity drops.
PTCL clarified that the maintenance window had been pre-planned and coordinated with international cable partners to minimize disruption. “This essential maintenance is being carried out to ensure the continued reliability and efficiency of Pakistan’s international communication links,” a company spokesperson said.
The telecom giant assured users that redundant routing arrangements — through other submarine cables and satellite connections — are being utilized to keep major services online. However, due to high data loads and rerouted traffic, temporary slowdowns remain possible, particularly during peak usage hours.
internet slow in Pakistan Nationwide Impact and User Concerns
The maintenance work has raised concerns among internet-dependent businesses, freelancers, and students, who rely heavily on stable connectivity for their daily activities.
Pakistan’s digital infrastructure supports over 125 million internet users, making it one of the largest online populations in South Asia. Even short disruptions can have widespread ripple effects on e-commerce transactions, online education, video conferencing, and banking systems.
Users in major cities like Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Faisalabad reported slower browsing speeds on Monday morning, particularly when accessing international websites and cloud-based platforms such as Google Workspace, Zoom, and YouTube.
Freelancer communities — particularly those working on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, and Toptal — expressed frustration, saying that delays in submitting projects could lead to lost earnings. “Every hour of slow internet can cost us clients,” said Ayesha Khan, a Lahore-based graphic designer. “We depend on uninterrupted connections to deliver work on time.”
internet slow in Pakistan PTCL’s Assurance and Contingency Planning
In its statement, PTCL emphasized that the repairs are crucial for long-term network stability, especially as data demand continues to grow exponentially. The company noted that aging sections of the submarine cable system require periodic maintenance to prevent larger-scale outages in the future.
“Our engineers are working round the clock in close coordination with global experts to complete the repairs as quickly as possible,” PTCL said. “We understand the inconvenience this may cause, and we sincerely appreciate our customers’ patience and understanding.”
PTCL also encouraged users to schedule high-data tasks — such as software updates, cloud backups, or video uploads — outside the maintenance window to avoid disruption.
internet slow in Pakistan Understanding the Submarine Cable Network
Pakistan’s internet backbone is connected to the global web through multiple submarine fiber-optic cables, including SEA-ME-WE 4, SEA-ME-WE 5, IMEWE, and AAE-1, among others. These cables are managed by international consortiums that periodically conduct maintenance to repair damage caused by environmental factors, ship anchors, or natural wear and tear.
The malfunctioning repeater identified in PTCL’s notice is part of one such international system. Repeaters play a vital role in boosting optical signals as they travel thousands of kilometers under the sea. A faulty repeater can lead to signal degradation, packet loss, or latency spikes, affecting end-user experience across vast regions.
Telecom analysts explained that while redundancy is built into the system, certain repairs can still cause partial slowdowns because traffic rerouting increases pressure on alternative cables. “It’s like diverting all cars from a major highway to smaller roads — congestion is inevitable,” said Dr. Saeed Akhtar, a telecom infrastructure expert.
Economic and Digital Implications
Pakistan’s digital economy, valued at over $7 billion, depends on uninterrupted connectivity for e-commerce, IT exports, and remote work. Industry insiders warn that even temporary outages can affect international business operations, especially for companies providing software development and IT services to clients abroad.
According to the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB), more than 500,000 Pakistani freelancers contribute nearly $400 million annually in foreign exchange earnings. “Every minute of downtime directly impacts our productivity and client satisfaction,” said a PSEB spokesperson.
Similarly, the education sector — where millions of students rely on online lectures and virtual classrooms — may face interruptions throughout the day. Universities have already advised students to download essential materials in advance in case connectivity fluctuates.
internet slow in Pakistan Government Oversight and Long-Term Strategy
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication (MoITT) confirmed that it is monitoring the situation closely and remains in touch with PTCL to ensure timely restoration of services. Officials reiterated that such maintenance activities are part of global best practices and should not be viewed as a system failure.
In recent years, the government has pushed for increased investment in fiber-optic expansion and redundancy, including the addition of new undersea cable links to improve network resilience. Projects such as the Pakistan & East Africa Connecting Europe (PEACE) Cable System have already added capacity, with more routes expected to come online by 2026.
“The goal is to ensure that no single repair or technical fault can significantly affect nationwide connectivity,” a senior MoITT official said. “Pakistan’s internet infrastructure is expanding, and redundancy planning is a top priority.”
internet slow in Pakistan Public Reaction and Social Media Trends
As news of the slowdown spread, social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook saw hashtags like #InternetDown, #PTCL, and #SlowInternet trend throughout the morning. Some users voiced frustration over repeated outages, while others appreciated PTCL’s transparency in issuing early notifications.
Digital rights activists praised the telecom company for timely public communication but urged authorities to establish a real-time online outage tracker, similar to models used in other countries, so users can check the status of ongoing repairs.
