Internet users across Pakistan are likely to experience slow speeds and service disruptions today (October 14) as maintenance work begins on a major submarine cable system, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has announced. The disruption is expected to last for several hours due to the repair of a faulty repeater in the undersea network.
According to PTCL, the maintenance activity is scheduled to begin around 11am Pakistan Standard Time and may continue for up to 18 hours. “The activity will start on October 14 … around 11am PST, which can last for up to 18 hours,” PTCL stated in an announcement on X. “During this period, customers will face Internet service degradation. We regret the inconvenience, please.”
The company explained that the repair work involves a repeater — a key component that amplifies data signals along undersea internet cables connecting Pakistan to global networks. The International Cable Consortium, responsible for maintaining these links, has scheduled the repair as part of routine maintenance operations.
A PTCL spokesperson said that during the maintenance window, users may face intermittent connectivity issues and difficulty accessing websites and social media platforms. “We sincerely regret any disruptions and thank users for their patience as essential maintenance is carried out to ensure network stability,” the spokesperson said.
A day earlier, on October 13, internet monitoring service Downdetector also recorded user reports of difficulty accessing platforms such as Facebook and Instagram in Pakistan, with reports of slow performance on mobile data and broadband connections. Telecom operators confirmed instances of temporary network congestion in some areas during the maintenance period.
PTCL noted that full internet connectivity is expected to return to normal once the repair work is completed and the international link resumes regular operations. “The maintenance activity is part of regular global network upgrades, and our teams are working closely with international partners to minimize user impact,” the company said.
The latest maintenance follows similar issues reported earlier this year. On January 3, a fault in the AAE-1 subsea cable caused widespread slowdowns in Pakistan before full connectivity was restored on January 16. PTCL has also previously cautioned users about potential disruptions caused by cable cuts in Saudi waters.
