A major disruption at Amazon Web Services (AWS) left millions facing internet issues worldwide on Monday. In Pakistan, users also reported severe slowdowns, adding to frustration over another alleged submarine cable fault that affected major internet service providers.
Global Disruptions Triggered by AWS Outage
The widespread outage at AWS, Amazon’s leading cloud computing platform, caused major interruptions across numerous online platforms and services. Popular apps and websites including Reddit, Snapchat, Airbnb, and Duolingo faced prolonged downtime. Streaming platforms like Disney+ and Amazon Prime Video also went offline for several hours.
Even major financial platforms and trading applications such as Coinbase and Robinhood experienced significant connectivity problems. In parts of Europe, messaging platforms like Signal and WhatsApp showed disruptions, while several UK banks including Lloyd’s reported service interruptions linked to the AWS issue.
AWS Identifies DNS Issue Behind Global Disruption
AWS confirmed that the cause of the outage was a problem with its Domain Name System (DNS), a crucial internet protocol that links web addresses to their respective servers. Engineers identified increased error rates across multiple services and worked to resolve the underlying issue.
Within a few hours, AWS reported “significant signs of recovery” as services slowly resumed. Although most systems were restored, users continued to face residual slowdowns. According to AWS, the DNS issue had been fully mitigated but created a large backlog of requests that took time to clear.
Pakistan Faces Internet Slowdown Amid Submarine Cable Fault
While the AWS outage affected users globally, Pakistan’s connectivity issues were compounded by another technical problem. Several internet users across Karachi and other cities reported unusually slow speeds and unstable connections. Many attributed the issue to a fault in one of the undersea cables supplying the country.
Reports suggested that the disruption might have stemmed from the PEACE cable system, which connects Pakistan to China and other international routes. Digital analysts indicated that a possible cable cut had disrupted the network, and technicians were conducting tests to identify the exact fault location.
Lack of Official Acknowledgement Raises User Concerns
Despite widespread complaints, there was no immediate public statement from the country’s major internet service providers, the Ministry of Information Technology, or the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). However, officials initially attributed the connectivity problems to the global AWS disruption rather than a domestic technical failure.
Internet users expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of communication from ISPs, emphasizing that recurring “cable faults” continue to impact the quality and reliability of online services in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s Undersea Cable Network Overview
Pakistan’s international internet connectivity relies on multiple undersea cable systems operated by different companies. The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) manages three major cable networks:
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AAE-1 (Africa, Asia, and Europe)
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SMW4 (South-East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe)
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IMEWE (India-Middle East-Western Europe)
Other systems such as the PEACE cable, operated in part by Cybernet and TransWorld Associates, also play a vital role in maintaining high-speed data flow between Pakistan and global destinations. A single fault in these systems can cause widespread slowdowns across the country.
Combined Impact of AWS and Cable Issues
The dual impact of AWS’s global outage and the local submarine cable disruption left users facing slow speeds, lagging video streams, and connectivity drops. Businesses relying on cloud computing and real-time communication were particularly affected, highlighting the country’s dependency on both international cloud infrastructure and submarine cable networks.
Looking Ahead
As AWS systems gradually returned to normal and engineers worked to localize and repair the cable fault, connectivity began to stabilize. However, the incident underscored the fragility of internet infrastructure and the urgent need for redundancy in Pakistan’s digital backbone.
Frequent outages have revealed how disruptions in global or regional networks can quickly affect millions of users. Strengthening submarine cable systems and diversifying global cloud dependencies remain essential for ensuring consistent internet access in the future.
