Internet services across Pakistan have stabilized after the repair of the SEA-ME-WE 5 (SMW5) international submarine cable. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed that the fault has been resolved, allowing internet connectivity to continue without further interruption.
The restoration follows several days of degraded internet performance that affected millions of users across the country. Freelancers, students, businesses, and ordinary consumers experienced slow browsing, interrupted connections, and difficulties accessing online services.
PTA Confirms Restoration of Services
The PTA announced that the fault in the SMW5 international submarine cable has been successfully repaired. As a result, internet services are expected to remain stable across Pakistan.
Earlier, on July 2, the regulator informed users that a fault had developed in the international cable system. At that time, the authority warned that some internet users “may experience intermittent degradation in service quality and connectivity.”
The issue affected internet performance until repair work was completed.
Fault Traced to International Cable Segment
According to earlier findings, the fault occurred in a subsea section of the SMW5 cable system. Initial reports indicated that the affected segment was located near Abu Talat, Egypt.
Transworld Associates (TWA), the landing party for the SMW5 cable in Pakistan, worked with the international SMW5 consortium to identify the fault and complete the necessary repairs.
Meanwhile, technical teams coordinated efforts to restore normal connectivity as quickly as possible.
Alternative Routes Helped Reduce Disruptions
During the outage, internet traffic was redirected through alternative international links. Consequently, service providers continued offering internet access despite reduced performance.
A senior TWA official had stated that internet service providers were shifted to spare network capacity while repair work remained underway.
Although these contingency measures reduced the overall impact, many users still experienced slower internet speeds and unstable connections.
Businesses and Freelancers Faced Connectivity Issues
The disruption affected several sectors that depend on reliable internet access.
Many freelancers faced delays while uploading projects or attending online client meetings. Similarly, students experienced interruptions during online learning and research activities.
Businesses also reported connectivity challenges. Furthermore, some merchants encountered failed digital transactions and payment gateway timeouts. Digital banking applications also performed more slowly during the disruption.
Because TWA carries approximately 40 percent of Pakistan’s internet traffic, the cable fault affected a significant number of users nationwide.
Importance of the SMW5 Cable
The SEA-ME-WE 5 submarine cable is one of Pakistan’s key international internet connections. The fiber-optic system stretches approximately 20,000 kilometers and links Southeast Asia with Europe through the Middle East.
The cable became operational in 2017 and remains one of six international submarine cable systems serving Pakistan.
Its restoration has now returned internet services to normal levels, providing relief to millions of users who rely on stable connectivity for education, business, communication, and digital services.
