Alert: Submarine Cable fault may cause slow internet for Pakistan Internet users

In a recent tweet, PTCL has just announced that the submarine cable has been faulted with bandwidth scarcity on the western segment and it is now being restored. However, some alternate arrangements for the users are in place.

The damage to the submarine cable effects PTCL and its users first hand as it is the parent supplier of internet services throughout Pakistan.

There are also reports that there may be more than one cable damaged – so for the internet users the most convenience point of access is calling the PTCL on their help line 1218 and asking them about the current situation. Usually, there is an automatic message which is relayed on the number, if there is a genuine problem.

Question is, would our government like to continue providing the internet facility with just one prime service provider? or would it think of getting more options in? Mobile phone services are not the problem, but internet access will remain this way, as the bandwidth allocation is under PTCL and PTA.

Prior to this, the cable had been damaged in July this year, when the international submarine cable, SEA-ME-WE 4, experienced a fault in the Arabian Sea. It impacted Internet services in the region including Pakistan.

Source: PTCL