PTA has confirmed that the issue of degraded internet services across the country has been resolved, following the addition of temporary bandwidth into the system. PTA issued a brief statement on Saturday stating that internet services had been restored to stable conditions after the resolution of a fault in the AAE-1 submarine cable. The cable, which runs across multiple countries and serves as a key part of Pakistan’s international internet connectivity, had been facing technical difficulties, leading to widespread service disruptions.
“To address the issue of degradation of Internet services due to fault in AAE-1 submarine cable on January 2, 2025 ad hoc bandwidth has been arranged and added in the system,”
The authority further emphasized its active monitoring of the restoration efforts for the AAE-1 cable, underlining its commitment to maintaining a stable internet service during this period of technical disruption.
The cable fault had been a significant concern for internet users across Pakistan, as the AAE-1 submarine cable is one of the seven international undersea cables connecting the country for international internet traffic. Pakistan’s internet services rely heavily on these cables, and any faults can cause widespread disruptions. The issue was first brought to public attention last week when PTA warned users that internet and broadband services might experience disruptions due to the fault in the AAE-1 submarine cable, located near Qatar.
Despite the resolution of the issue, Pakistan has faced persistent internet problems for quite some time. The country has experienced slow internet speeds since last year, often attributed to faults in the submarine cables. Furthermore, some reports suggest that the government has been experimenting with an internet “firewall,” potentially contributing to the slow internet speeds. These ongoing issues have especially impacted freelancers, a growing segment of Pakistan’s workforce, who rely on stable and fast internet for their work. With over two million freelancers contributing significantly to the country’s economy, the internet disruptions have raised concerns about the long-term effects on the sector.
The internet slowdown and service disruptions have also sparked legal attention, with several cases being filed in courts in response to slow internet and social media restrictions. The dissatisfaction with the persistent internet issues has also been voiced by the government’s allies in both parliamentary sessions and public discussions, further intensifying the pressure on authorities to resolve the matter.
Internationally, Pakistan has struggled with internet speed rankings. According to the Ookla Speedtest Global Index, Pakistan was ranked 100th out of 111 countries for mobile internet speeds, with an average download speed of 20.61 Mbps and an upload speed of 8.53 Mbps. In terms of broadband speeds, Pakistan ranked 141st out of 158 countries, with a download speed of 15.60 Mbps and an upload speed of 15.53 Mbps. These rankings reflect Pakistan’s ongoing challenges in providing fast and reliable internet services, which continue to impact both businesses and everyday users across the country.
As Pakistan moves forward with efforts to improve its internet infrastructure, PTA’s swift response to the AAE-1 submarine cable fault is a step in the right direction. However, the long-term solution will likely require a more comprehensive approach to internet service provision, including investments in technology, improved regulations, and continued efforts to overcome the challenges posed by external factors such as cable faults and internal issues like network management and policy reforms.
