Islamabad, October 13, 2025 – Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has issued an advisory warning of potential internet disruptions across the country due to scheduled maintenance on a critical submarine cable system. The repair, targeting a faulty repeater, will commence on October 14 at 11:00 AM PST and is expected to last up to 18 hours, possibly extending into the early hours of October 15.
PTCL spokesperson confirmed the work is being handled by an international cable consortium, affecting Pakistan’s primary undersea links that carry over 90% of global data traffic. While alternate routes will be activated to mitigate impact, users may encounter partial slowdowns, reduced speeds, or intermittent outages, particularly during peak hours. “We apologize for any inconvenience and assure full restoration post-maintenance,” the advisory stated, urging remote workers and students to plan accordingly.
Submarine cables like SMW-4 and AAE-1 are vital for Pakistan’s connectivity, and past faults—such as a September 2025 cut near Jeddah—have caused similar nationwide glitches. Telecom rivals like Nayatel echoed the alert, confirming potential bandwidth dips. As digital reliance grows, experts call for diversified infrastructure to buffer such vulnerabilities.
