Slow Internet Expected Nationwide Today as PTCL Conducts Cable Fix

The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has announced that internet users across the country are likely to face slow speeds and patchy connectivity throughout Tuesday. The disruption is due to scheduled maintenance work on a submarine cable system, which connects Pakistan to the global internet.

According to PTCL, the maintenance began at around 11 a.m. (PST) and could last for nearly 18 hours. The company says the work is essential to repair a faulty repeater in the undersea network — a component critical to maintaining stable internet performance.

What’s Causing the Slowdown

PTCL stated that the maintenance activity is being carried out to prevent long-term damage and improve network reliability. Undersea cable systems play a major role in Pakistan’s connectivity, carrying most of the country’s international traffic.

This is not the first time such disruptions have affected users. Just last month, cable issues in Saudi waters slowed down nationwide connectivity during peak hours.

Current Situation and User Reports

• Maintenance started at 11 a.m. PST, expected to last up to 18 hours.

• Users have reported difficulty accessing Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube since early morning.

• According to Downdetector, outage reports spiked sharply over the last 24 hours.

• PTCL has apologized for the inconvenience and assured customers that full connectivity will be restored soon.
  
  

Expert Opinion and Reactions

Technology experts say Pakistan’s internet infrastructure remains highly dependent on a few international cable systems, making it vulnerable to disruptions.

“Even a small fault in one undersea cable can affect several internet service providers at once,” explained Adeel Khan, a Karachi-based network engineer.

Social media users have also voiced frustration as the slowdown has impacted video calls, streaming, and online classes.

Why It Matters for Pakistan?

The outage is affecting businesses, digital payments, and IT operations across major cities including Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Slow connectivity can lead to:

• Delays in financial transactions

• Reduced productivity for freelancers and tech firms

• Interrupted online education and meetings

Experts say this incident highlights the urgent need for additional international cable routes and stronger local data infrastructure to reduce dependency on a few links.

What Happens Next?

PTCL expects to complete the repair work by late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning. Extra teams have been deployed to monitor the network and restore stability as soon as possible.

Until then, users are advised to use mobile data or alternative ISPs where available, and avoid downloading large files.