ISLAMABAD: Internet services across Pakistan may face disruptions on January 15 as providers prepare for scheduled maintenance on a key submarine cable, industry sources confirmed Tuesday. Nayatel informed customers that an unavoidable maintenance activity will begin around 2 PM and may continue for up to eight hours.
On Thursday, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, nonetheless, ruled out the internet outage, saying it was incorrect information.
Earlier, Nayatel told its users that the maintenance work could affect performance nationwide. However, it did not disclose the cable’s location or confirm whether a fault had already emerged. Service providers typically rely on multiple international cables to carry traffic, yet heavy dependence on a limited number of routes can amplify the impact of any maintenance. As a result, operators often issue advisories to help customers plan around potential disruptions.
Recent outages heighten public concern
The advisory comes amid lingering frustration over recent connectivity problems. Earlier this month, Pakistan experienced widespread outages linked to an issue at an upstream provider, which disrupted access for more than 48 hours in several regions.
Moreover, businesses reported losses due to stalled payments, delayed communications, and interrupted online operations. Freelancers and remote workers also cited productivity setbacks during the downtime.
Telecom experts say routine maintenance is essential to ensure long-term network resilience. Additionally, they urge authorities and operators to diversify routes and invest in redundancy to reduce the risk of nationwide slowdowns.
Meanwhile, users are advised to schedule critical online tasks outside the maintenance window and enable offline backups where possible.
