Internet Degradation
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) assured the public on Saturday that internet services across the country are stable after a temporary bandwidth solution was implemented to address disruptions caused by a submarine cable fault.
In a statement, the PTA explained that an ad hoc bandwidth had been added to mitigate the effects of the fault in the AAE-1 submarine cable, which occurred near Qatar on January 2, 2025.
The authority is actively monitoring the situation and overseeing restoration efforts for the cable to ensure uninterrupted internet services during the interim period.
The AAE-1 submarine cable is one of seven international undersea cables responsible for connecting Pakistan to global internet traffic. The fault had led to degraded internet speeds, impacting millions of users, particularly freelancers who rely on stable internet connections for their livelihoods.
Pakistan, home to over two million freelancers, has seen mounting criticism over persistent internet issues, with concerns raised in courts, parliament, and among the government’s allies.
In a sharp remark, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto criticized the recurring faults in undersea cables, humorously questioning why Pakistan’s cables seem uniquely targeted by marine life.
According to the Ookla Speedtest Global Index, Pakistan ranks poorly in global internet speeds—100th out of 111 countries for mobile internet, with download speeds of 20.61 Mbps, and 141st out of 158 countries for broadband, with speeds of 15.60 Mbps.
However, there is hope for improvement. A major development under the 2Africa Submarine Cable System, supported by global tech giants like Meta and Vodafone, is set to transform internet connectivity in Pakistan. This 45,000-kilometre cable, utilizing advanced SDM1 technology with a capacity of 180Tbps, will significantly boost the country’s bandwidth capacity.
The cable installation began in December 2024 with the Pre-Lay Shore End (PLSE) phase at Hawksbay, Karachi. The second phase, involving deep-sea cable laying, is scheduled for April 2025.
Expected to go live by Q4 2025, the system will provide Pakistan with 24 terabytes of bandwidth, compared to the current 8 terabytes offered by existing cables.
This enhanced bandwidth is projected to improve the performance of platforms like Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, addressing longstanding complaints about slow speeds and unreliable services. The 2Africa project represents a critical step towards transforming Pakistan’s digital infrastructure and ensuring robust, high-speed internet connectivity.
