Internet users across Pakistan face slower speeds nightly between 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. This slowdown stems from faults on two undersea cable routes. Consequently, the remaining submarine cables carry far more traffic. As a result, data congestion intensifies during evening hours. Therefore, streaming, gaming, and video calls suffer noticeable lag. Moreover, businesses serving clients abroad face missed deadlines and revenue losses.
Why Undersea Cables Matter
Submarine cables form the backbone of international internet traffic. When two major routes have technical faults, capacity drops sharply. Repair work and maintenance further reduce available bandwidth. Additionally, security risks in maritime chokepoints complicate repair timelines. Thus, operators cannot restore full capacity quickly. Meanwhile, local networks strain to reroute traffic through fewer links.
Who Feels the Pain Most
Call centers and freelance professionals bear the brunt of peak-time slowdowns. For them, every minute of downtime means lost income. Small businesses and co-working spaces also struggle to deliver services. Furthermore, online banking and large file transfers often fail at night. Consequently, many clients experience disrupted meetings and failed downloads.
Industry Responses and Short-Term Fixes
Internet providers try multiple mitigation measures during outages. They deploy traffic shaping and prioritize essential services. Also, some firms add local optimizations and software tools. However, such measures provide only temporary relief. Private backup engineers can clear only a few critical links. Therefore, these stopgaps cannot replace full undersea capacity.
Calls for Resilience and Long-Term Solutions
Industry leaders urge urgent investment in resilient infrastructure. They recommend adding diverse submarine routes and satellite options. Moreover, regulators could push for faster repair coordination. In the meantime, companies must prepare contingency plans. For example, they can schedule international calls earlier in the day. Additionally, firms can negotiate service credits or contract protections with clients.
What Users Can Do Now
Users should avoid large uploads during 7 p.m.–11 p.m. Instead, schedule heavy downloads for off-peak hours. Also, switch to audio-only calls when video fails. Finally, co-working spaces may deploy local caching and dedicated switches to stabilize services.
