Internet users across Pakistan may experience slower connections during peak hours until November 2, 2026, as engineers carry out emergency maintenance on an international submarine cable. Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has warned of possible service disruptions while work continues on the Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE-1) cable.
PTCL said the maintenance began on October 27 along the cable section connecting Italy and France. During this period, users may notice “minor service degradation,” particularly when internet traffic reaches its busiest levels.
The company thanked customers for their patience and understanding while engineers complete the maintenance work.
Why Is the AAE-1 Submarine Cable Important?
The Asia-Africa-Europe 1 cable serves as a major route for Pakistan’s international internet traffic. The approximately 25,000-kilometre system connects Southeast Asia with Europe, passing through Egypt before reaching Pakistan.
PTCL commissioned Pakistan’s operations on the cable system in 2017. Its connections link the country to Europe through landing points in Greece, Italy and France.
Because the current maintenance affects the European section, users may experience slower access to services hosted in Europe. The impact could become more noticeable during busy evening hours, when internet demand typically rises.
However, PTCL has described the expected disruption as minor service degradation rather than a complete internet shutdown.
Could Internet Users Face Problems Until November 2?
The maintenance window runs until November 2, 2026. Therefore, users may encounter reduced speeds during peak hours while engineers work on the affected section.
The actual impact may vary depending on traffic levels and the routes used to access online services. Some users may notice little change, while others could experience slower connections during busy periods.
PTCL has not confirmed whether it will introduce additional backup bandwidth during the maintenance period. Consequently, the extent to which alternative capacity might limit disruptions remains unclear.
Pakistan Has Experienced Similar Cable Disruptions Before
The current maintenance follows earlier problems involving the same submarine cable system. In January 2025, a fault near Qatar disrupted internet speeds across Pakistan for nearly two weeks.
PTCL later announced that engineers had repaired the fault. The incident demonstrated how problems affecting international submarine cables can influence internet connectivity across the country.
These cables carry international data between countries and support access to websites, applications and online services hosted overseas. As a result, maintenance or faults along major routes can affect users far from the location of the work.
For now, PTCL has warned users about possible slowdowns until November 2. The company has not confirmed whether it will provide additional bandwidth to reduce the impact during this period.
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