On January 3, 2025, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) announced that users might experience slower internet speeds due to a disruption in an international submarine cable. The company stated, “Teams are working diligently to resolve the matter as soon as possible. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused during this time.”

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) had earlier reported a fault in the AAE-1 submarine cable near Qatar, one of the seven undersea cables connecting Pakistan to global internet infrastructure. PTA assured users that efforts are underway to fix the issue and that they are monitoring the situation closely.

Internet disruptions have been a recurring issue in Pakistan, often attributed to submarine cable faults. These slowdowns significantly impact the country’s over two million freelancers who rely on stable internet connections for their work.

The situation has drawn criticism from various quarters, including political figures. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto questioned why such disruptions seem to target only Pakistan’s undersea fiber optic cables.

According to Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index, Pakistan ranks 100th out of 111 countries in mobile internet speeds, with a download speed of 20.61 Mbps and upload speed of 8.53 Mbps. In broadband speeds, the country stands at 141st out of 158, with a download speed of 15.60 Mbps and upload speed of 15.53 Mbps.

PTCL and PTA have assured users that they are working to restore services as quickly as possible. Users are advised to stay updated through official channels for the latest information on the situation.