The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has identified damage to the AAE-1 submarine cable near Qatar as the cause of widespread internet connectivity issues across the country. In a statement, the PTA acknowledged the disruption and informed users that efforts are underway to repair the fault.
“This may impact internet and broadband user experience across Pakistan,” the PTA stated. “The concerned teams are working to fix the fault. The PTA is monitoring the situation and will keep updating telecom users accordingly.”
Persistent Internet Issues Since Early 2024
Frequent internet slowdowns and disruptions have plagued Pakistan since the beginning of 2024. The business community attributes these recurring issues to alleged government attempts to monitor and control internet traffic.
For months, users across Pakistan have reported difficulties accessing and downloading media on WhatsApp due to sluggish internet speeds. The situation has been further exacerbated by limited access to virtual private networks (VPNs), restricting connectivity to platforms like X for hundreds of users.
Global Internet Ranking and Bandwidth Constraints
Pakistan’s internet speeds remain among the slowest globally, despite government efforts to improve broadband services in recent months. According to Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index, Pakistan ranks 141 out of 158 nations for fixed broadband speeds, with a median speed of 15.6 Mbps. For mobile internet, the country is ranked 100 out of 111, with a median speed of 20.6 Mbps.
The nation currently relies on bandwidth from seven underwater cables, providing a total of 8 terabytes of capacity. The latest disruption highlights the vulnerability of Pakistan’s internet infrastructure, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced network resilience and redundancy.
As repair efforts continue, users are urged to remain patient and stay updated through PTA announcements.
