Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has issued an important warning for internet users across the country, stating that internet services may experience disruptions during evening hours from 11 May to 18 May.
According to the company, repair work is currently underway to fix a fault in an international submarine fibre-optic cable. As a result, users may experience slow internet speeds, buffering and connectivity issues.
In an official statement and a post shared on the social media platform X, PTCL said that the repairs, being carried out by the international cable consortium, could continue for several days. The company added that internet speeds may be particularly affected during evening hours.
Experts say that most of Pakistan’s internet traffic is transmitted through undersea fibre-optic cables. Therefore, any fault in an international cable can impact internet services across the country. This is why users in different cities may experience slow internet speeds or temporary outages during the ongoing repair work.
Meanwhile, according to a report by Top10VPN.com, Pakistan suffered the highest financial losses in the world in 2023 due to internet and social media shutdowns. The report stated that repeated disruptions severely affected the economy, online businesses, freelancers and digital activities.
The situation comes at a time when the Government of Pakistan has recently launched the country’s first Digital Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES).
According to the survey, internet access has increased significantly, with nearly 70 per cent of households and 57 per cent of individuals now using the internet.
