Breaking News: Internet Services Across Pakistan Expected Slow Due to PTCL Cable Maintenance Today
The Internet Services Across Pakistan Expected Slow Due to PTCL Cable Maintenance Today, as the country’s largest telecom operator, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), announced major repair work on its undersea cable network. Millions of users nationwide are bracing for degraded speeds and unstable connectivity throughout the day as PTCL begins an 18-hour submarine cable maintenance operation starting at 11 a.m. PST.
According to PTCL’s official statement, this essential activity aims to repair a faulty repeater in the submarine cable system that carries Pakistan’s international internet traffic. The company warned that customers may experience slow browsing, high latency, and temporary disconnections during the maintenance period. While the repair is temporary, it is critical to prevent larger outages in the future and ensure stable data flow between Pakistan and global networks.
The announcement confirming that Internet Services Across Pakistan Expected Slow Due to PTCL Cable Maintenance Today follows widespread reports from users across major cities, including Lahore, Karachi, and Islamabad, who have already noticed disruptions on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. PTCL has assured users that it is working with global partners to restore normal speeds as quickly as possible and minimize the inconvenience.
Internet Services Across Pakistan Expected Slow PTCL’s Official Statement
In a public notice issued late Monday night, PTCL confirmed that customers should prepare for temporary internet degradation throughout the day.
“We are conducting necessary maintenance to fix a technical fault in one of our international submarine cable systems. During this period, users may experience slow browsing or difficulty accessing some online platforms. We regret the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding,” the company said in its statement.
The repair will be carried out in collaboration with international consortium partners, as submarine cables connect multiple countries through complex undersea networks.
Impact Duration and Affected Regions
The maintenance operation is expected to last until early Wednesday morning (October 15, 2025), depending on sea conditions and technical factors.
PTCL has informed that users may experience intermittent slowdowns, especially while accessing:
- International websites such as YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Netflix.
- Cloud-based services like Google Drive, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.
- Online banking, e-commerce, and remote working platforms.
While domestic websites hosted in Pakistan may continue to load normally, users might still face latency issues when connecting to servers located abroad.
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Social Media Outages Already Being Reported
Reports from Downdetector — a global outage monitoring website — show that thousands of Pakistani users began facing issues even before the official maintenance window started.
Users across Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and Multan reported sluggish speeds and delayed video streaming on Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
Why Submarine Cables Are So Important
Submarine cables are the backbone of global internet infrastructure. Nearly 98% of all international data traffic travels through these fiber-optic cables laid on the ocean floor.
When a cable needs maintenance or repair, the affected region can face slower internet, higher latency, or temporary outages, as the data must be rerouted through alternative routes that have limited capacity.
Pakistan’s internet connectivity heavily depends on a few major undersea systems such as:
- SMW-4 (SEA-ME-WE 4)
- AAE-1 (Asia-Africa-Europe-1)
- IMEWE (India-Middle East-Western Europe)
- SEA-ME-WE 5
If one of these links goes offline, traffic congestion builds up quickly, slowing down the entire network.
Previous Incidents and Lessons Learned
This isn’t the first time Pakistan has faced a nationwide slowdown due to cable problems.
- In September 2025, PTCL warned that a cable cut near Saudi waters had caused temporary slowdowns during peak hours.
- In August 2023, connectivity was disrupted for several days when the AAE-1 cable suffered damage near Egypt.
- In March 2024, partial outages affected South Asia after repairs were delayed due to bad weather in the Red Sea.
Each of these events highlights the fragility of Pakistan’s connectivity, given its limited number of active international gateways.
PTA Monitoring the Situation
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has confirmed that it is monitoring PTCL’s maintenance activity and coordinating with the company to minimize the impact on users.
According to sources in the telecom industry, ISPs and mobile networks that rely on PTCL’s backbone are attempting to reroute internet traffic through backup cables and satellite links. However, this process cannot completely eliminate slowdowns due to limited alternative capacity.
Effect on Businesses, Students, and Freelancers
The internet slowdown is likely to affect a wide range of sectors:
- Businesses and freelancers may experience delays in uploading large files, completing projects, or communicating with international clients.
- Students attending online classes might face connection drops during video sessions or exams.
- Banks, e-commerce sites, and fintech apps could also see reduced transaction speeds during the day.
Industry experts recommend scheduling important online work before or after the maintenance window.
Users are also advised to restart modems once services normalize to ensure a stable connection.
Public Reaction and Memes
Despite frustration, many users in Pakistan responded to the news with humor.
Twitter and Facebook were flooded with memes comparing PTCL’s maintenance to a “national holiday from Wi-Fi.”
Others expressed concerns that the timing coincides with weekday office hours, causing disruption for those relying on online meetings, freelancing, or e-learning platforms.
One user joked, “It’s not PTCL maintenance, it’s Pakistan’s annual digital detox day!”
PTCL’s Assurance to Customers
In a follow-up statement, PTCL reassured customers that the maintenance team is working around the clock to restore normal operations.
“We are utilizing all available resources and collaborating with our global partners to complete the work as quickly as possible,” the company said.
“We apologize for the inconvenience and thank our customers for their patience.”
PTCL also reminded users that temporary slowdowns are normal during such operations and that full service will be restored automatically once the repair is completed.
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What You Can Do During the Outage
To minimize inconvenience, users can follow these simple tips:
| ✅ Action | 💡 Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Download important files before noon | Prevents disruption during file transfers |
| Avoid streaming or gaming | Reduces bandwidth load |
| Use offline apps (Docs, Mail, Maps) | Keeps work going without connection |
| Switch to mobile data if one ISP slows | Some networks may perform better |
| Stay updated via official PTCL or PTA accounts | Latest information on restoration time |
Conclusion: Expect Slow Speeds, Not Total Blackout
While Pakistan may face widespread internet slowdowns throughout the day, experts assure users that a complete blackout is unlikely. Domestic websites and some local servers will remain accessible, though browsing speeds may vary from region to region.
If repairs proceed smoothly, normal internet services should resume by early Wednesday morning, October 15, 2025.
For live updates, stay connected to PAVE.com.pk — your reliable source for technology and connectivity news in Pakistan.
