Pakistan is experiencing significant internet disruptions caused by multiple submarine cable cuts near the coast of Yemen. According to officials, the restoration of connectivity could take four to five weeks, as repair work in the affected region is complex and time-consuming.
Submarine Cable Damage Near Yemen
Several undersea cables were damaged in the Red Sea region near Yemen, creating widespread connectivity issues. Two of these damaged cables directly link to Pakistan, while additional cables in the area have also been affected. This damage has reduced available international bandwidth and slowed overall internet speeds across the country.
The situation is particularly complicated due to ongoing regional challenges, which may delay repair teams from reaching the exact locations. As a result, full restoration of services will take several weeks, and users should expect continued disruptions during this period.
Impact on Pakistan’s Internet Connectivity
Pakistan’s internet infrastructure relies heavily on submarine cables, which connect the country to global networks. With the current damage, the available capacity has been reduced. However, service providers have attempted to minimize the impact by diverting traffic through alternate routes.
Despite these measures, many users in Pakistan have reported slower browsing, video streaming interruptions, and difficulty accessing cloud-based services. Businesses dependent on stable internet connections are particularly affected, as disruptions can reduce productivity and efficiency.
Alternative Routes and Temporary Solutions
To ease the burden, internet companies have shifted bandwidth to backup systems. This helps keep essential services running, although performance is still lower than normal. The use of alternative routes prevents a complete outage, but users will continue to face instability until the damaged cables are repaired.
International teams are working with technical partners to carry out repairs on priority. However, the exact timeline depends on weather conditions, accessibility of damaged points, and availability of repair ships.
Previous Disruptions Near Saudi Waters
This is not the first time Pakistan has experienced connectivity issues due to cable damage. Earlier, submarine cables near Saudi waters, close to Jeddah, were also cut. Those incidents affected partial bandwidth capacity on two key systems, SMW4 and IMEWE, which are vital to Pakistan’s digital communication with the world.
Long-Term Concerns for Pakistan’s Connectivity
Frequent submarine cable cuts highlight the vulnerability of Pakistan’s internet infrastructure. Heavy reliance on a limited number of cables increases the risk of disruption whenever damage occurs. Experts suggest diversifying bandwidth sources, investing in satellite internet options, and expanding redundancy measures to avoid similar crises in the future.
Internet users in Pakistan should brace for at least four to five weeks of unstable connectivity as submarine cable repairs continue near Yemen. While temporary measures are in place, only full restoration of damaged links will bring internet performance back to normal.
