Pakistan's internet services potentially face disruptions due to submarine cable cuts.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has issued an official statement announcing potential internet service slowdowns in Pakistan. The disruption is due to faults in two underwater communication networks, the SMW4 and IMEWE systems, caused by submarine cable cuts near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The cuts occurred on Saturday and have affected partial bandwidth capacity on the affected systems. As a result, internet users in Pakistan may continue to experience service degradation, particularly during peak hours. The PTCL has not specified the exact extent or duration of the disruption in its previous announcement.
The PTCL has expressed its appreciation for the patience and understanding of its subscribers and is working diligently to minimize the disruption. PTCL's local teams are actively arranging alternative bandwidth routes, and the company's international partners are working on a priority basis to restore connectivity.
The global submarine cable operators and maintenance teams are collaborating to fix the faults in the SMW4 and IMEWE cables. The PTCL is coordinating these partners to prioritize repairs and manage alternate bandwidth during the disruption.
It is important to note that the disruption is not a result of any action by the PTCL but rather the unforeseen submarine cable cuts. Most web traffic in Pakistan relies on undersea links, making this disruption particularly significant.
The PTCL has warned of some internet service degradation but has not provided a definitive timeline for when normal service might be restored. The company urges its subscribers to stay connected for updates and thanks them for their understanding during this challenging time.
