PTA blames slow internet on submarine cables fault

Statement didn't give a specific timeframe for internet connectivity and an improvement in speed after repair of one cable

By Our Correspondent
August 29, 2024
People work near the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) headquarters building in Islamabad on August 16, 2024. — AFP
People work near the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) headquarters building in Islamabad on August 16, 2024. — AFP

ISLAMABAD: Internet services experienced severe disruptions on Wednesday for which the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) came up with the excuse that it got affected due to a fault in two out of seven submarine cables.

According to a statement, the PTA argued that the ongoing internet slowdown across the country is mainly due to faults in two (SMW4, AAE-1) of the seven international submarine cables connecting Pakistan internationally.

“It is updated that fault in SMW-4 submarine cable is likely to be repaired by early October 2024 whereas submarine cable AAE-1 has been repaired to improve internet experience,” said the statement.

However, the statement did not give a specific timeframe for internet connectivity and an improvement in speed after the repair of one cable.