The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has announced that internet services across the country will face degradation for up to 18 hours due to international maintenance work on a submarine cable beginning on Tuesaday. According to a PTCL spokesperson, the maintenance will begin at 11 am Pakistan Standard Time and involves the repair of a repeater system installed within the undersea fibre optic cable. The work is being carried out by the International Cable Consortium, which oversees the upkeep of key global communications infrastructure.

The spokesperson explained that during this time, users across Pakistan may experience intermittent connectivity issues, including slower internet speeds and difficulty accessing online platforms. PTCL expressed regret for the temporary disruption and assured customers that teams are working closely with international partners to minimise the impact. The scheduled repair work is part of routine global network upgrades and involves critical technical checks to ensure long-term network stability. PTCL emphasised that connectivity will gradually normalise once the maintenance activity is completed.

Meanwhile, users have already begun reporting issues with accessing popular social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter), according to internet monitoring service Downdetector. These access problems have been attributed directly to the ongoing international cable repairs. Telecom operators and internet service providers across the country also confirmed that mobile data services were experiencing congestion in some areas, especially during peak usage hours. This is not the first time that faults in submarine cables have disrupted internet services in Pakistan.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)