PTCL warns of 18-hour internet disruption

October 14, 2025 (MLN): Pakistan Telecommunications Limited warned Monday that internet users across the country will experience significant service degradation starting Tuesday morning as engineers work to repair a faulty repeater on a critical submarine cable.

The maintenance operation is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m. Pakistan Standard Time on October 14 and could extend up to 18 hours, PTCL said in a statement posted on social media platform X.

The state-owned telecom giant, which serves as the country's primary internet backbone provider, warned customers to expect reduced speeds and connectivity issues throughout the repair window.

"During this period, customers will face Internet service degradation," the company said, expressing regret for the inconvenience.

Dear Customers,

A maintenance activity is planned on one of our Submarine cables to repair a faulty repeater. The activity will start on October 14, 2025 around 11AM PST which can last for upto 18 hours. Customers will face service degradation. We regret the inconvenience please

— PTCL (@PTCLOfficial) October 13, 2025

The planned maintenance marks the latest chapter in Pakistan's ongoing struggle with internet reliability. Just last month, PTCL cautioned that damage to submarine cables in Saudi Arabian waters would likely impact services during peak usage hours.

Pakistan's internet infrastructure took a severe blow in early January when a fault in the AAE-1 subsea cable connecting the country caused widespread slowdowns.

PTCL deployed repair teams to address the issue, but full connectivity wasn't restored until January 16, nearly two weeks after the initial disruption.

Throughout 2024, Pakistani internet users reported persistent connectivity problems and reduced speeds, raising concerns about the country's digital infrastructure resilience as it seeks to expand its technology sector and digital economy.

Even before the scheduled maintenance, internet monitoring service Downdetector registered a surge in user complaints about accessing Facebook and Instagram in Pakistan on Monday. 

The timing of the 18-hour maintenance window, beginning late morning and potentially extending past dawn the following day, threatens to impact both business operations and consumer usage during prime hours.

Pakistan's digital connectivity issues carry significant economic implications. The country's IT services exports reached $3.2 billion in fiscal year 2024, and any extended internet disruption risks undermining the sector's growth trajectory.

Small businesses, remote workers, and the country's burgeoning e-commerce industry remain particularly vulnerable to connectivity lapses.

PTCL has not disclosed which specific submarine cable system requires the repeater repair or provided details about the nature of the fault.

The company operates connections through multiple cable systems, including the AAE-1, SEA-ME-WE 4, and SEA-ME-WE 5 cables that form Pakistan's primary links to international internet infrastructure.

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