Internet cable repairs to take 4-5 weeks, IT ministry tells NA panel

ISLAMABAD: TAhe Ministry of Information Technology on Thursday informed a National Assembly panel that repairing undersea internet cables damaged off the coast of Yemen could take four to five weeks, prolonging disruptions to Pakistan’s internet connectivity.

Secretary IT Zarrar Hasham, responding to questions during a meeting of the NA Standing Committee on Information Technology, said between four and five cables had been cut, not just one or two, as initially reported. He explained that the damage has significantly slowed internet speeds in Pakistan. To address future vulnerabilities, Hasham noted that three additional submarine cables would become operational within the next 12 to 18 months, strengthening Pakistan’s connectivity with Europe.

Earlier this month, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) had cautioned that a cut to submarine cables in Saudi waters might also affect internet services during peak hours, impacting the bandwidth capacity of the SMW4 (South Asia-Middle East-West Asia) and IMEWE (India-Middle East-Western Europe) networks.