PTCL Warns of Possible Internet Slowdown Due to Submarine Cable Cuts
The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has announced that cuts to international submarine internet cables in Saudi waters may cause slower internet speeds in Pakistan, especially during peak usage hours.
In a statement shared on X (formerly Twitter), PTCL said the cable cuts near Jeddah had affected partial bandwidth capacity on the SMW4 (South Asia–Middle East–West Asia) and IMEWE (India–Middle East–Western Europe) networks.
“Internet users in Pakistan may experience some service degradation during peak hours. Our international partners are working on priority to resolve the issue, while our local teams are arranging alternative bandwidth to minimize the impact,” PTCL stated.
The Ministry of Information Technology has not yet issued an official comment on the matter.
🌐 Not the First Disruption
This is not the first time Pakistan has faced internet slowdowns due to submarine cable damage. Throughout 2024, users across the country reported connectivity issues caused by undersea cable faults.
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On January 3, 2024, PTCL confirmed disruptions after a fault in the Asia-Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1) subsea cable reduced network speeds.
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On January 16, 2024, the company later announced full restoration after repair work was completed on the AAE-1 system.
📌 What Users Should Expect
While alternative routes are being arranged, users may still notice slower browsing, streaming delays, or reduced access to some services until the issue is fully resolved.
For now, PTCL has assured that efforts are underway with global partners to restore normal services as quickly as possible.
