Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has warned that internet users across the country may experience disruptions due to cuts in submarine cables near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The affected undersea cables, SMW4 and IMEWE, are critical links connecting Pakistan to global internet networks, and the partial bandwidth reduction is expected to impact connectivity temporarily.
In a statement released on Saturday, PTCL said international partners are prioritizing repairs to restore the damaged links, while local teams are arranging alternative bandwidth solutions to minimize the effect on users. The company expressed appreciation for customers’ patience and understanding during the disruption.
Data from Down Detector highlighted a surge in outage reports overnight, with complaints peaking around 9am. By 10:09am, at least 16 reports of service issues had been recorded, reflecting the impact of the submarine cable cuts on internet users nationwide.
PTCL also noted that the country’s internet infrastructure had been recently strengthened with the Africa-1 submarine cable earlier this year. This 10,000-kilometre-long cable, boasting high transmission capacity, links Pakistan to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and France, further diversifying the country’s connectivity options.
The Africa-1 project, approved by PTCL’s Board of Directors in November 2020 at a cost of $59.5 million, is expected to be fully operational by the first quarter of 2026, providing an additional robust pathway for international internet traffic.
PTCL reassured its users that all possible measures are being taken to ensure minimal disruption while the repairs are underway.
The company emphasized that alternative bandwidth arrangements are being utilized to maintain as much connectivity as possible until the undersea cables are fully restored. This proactive approach aims to safeguard Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and prevent prolonged internet outages during the ongoing repair work.
As Pakistan remains increasingly dependent on stable internet services for business, education, and communication, users are advised to anticipate temporary slowdowns or disruptions until the submarine cable repairs are completed.
