The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said internet users in Pakistan may face intermittent service degradation after a fault hit the SEA-ME-WE 5 international submarine cable system.
PTA said it was closely monitoring the disruption. The authority said some users may experience reduced service quality and connectivity issues because of the cable fault.
The regulator said Transworld Associates was coordinating with the SMW5 Consortium to identify the root cause. The company will also determine the estimated time for restoration, PTA added.
PTA said internet traffic was being rerouted through alternate international links. The authority said the rerouting aimed to minimise the impact and maintain service continuity as far as possible.
The regulator said it remained in close coordination with concerned stakeholders. It said it would continue to monitor the situation to support the earliest possible restoration of normal internet services across Pakistan.
Read: AJK Mobile Internet Suspension Ordered Before June 9 Strike
In May, Minister of Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja told the National Assembly that prolonged power outages had also affected internet speed and telecom quality.
In written replies, the minister said unreliable electricity, dependence on solar systems, fibre cuts, backhaul disruption, equipment theft, difficult terrain and security concerns had affected telecom service continuity.
She said Pakistan’s international connectivity had improved after three submarine cables landed in recent years. She also said fibre-based home connections rose from 1.9 million in 2024 to 5.1 million within two years.
