Pakistan Faces Internet Disruptions Due to Fault in Submarine Cable
Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima confirmed a reported loss of $8 billion to Pakistan's IT industry.
A fault in the AAE-1 submarine cable near Qatar, one of the seven undersea cables connecting Pakistan for international internet traffic, has caused concerns about potential internet disruptions across the country.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed the issue and assured the public that efforts are underway to fix the fault.
The disruption comes amid ongoing issues with internet speed and access, compounded by the recent ban on the X (formerly Twitter) platform.
The issue has also raised significant concern in Pakistan’s parliament, with the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information Technology seeking a detailed briefing from the Interior Minister.
Members of both the government and opposition expressed frustration over the ongoing disruptions, including debates around a potential ban on Virtual Private Networks (VPNs).
Opposition Leader Omar Ayub criticized attempts to block or regulate VPNs, and suggested the formation of a sub-committee to investigate the internet closure and speed issues.
MNA Sharmila Faruqui highlighted the negative impact on freelancers, including her husband, due to these disruptions.
The committee also discussed the financial toll on the country’s IT sector, which has faced significant losses due to the ongoing connectivity issues.
Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima confirmed a reported loss of $8 billion to Pakistan’s IT industry.
The Standing Committee emphasized the need for improvements to ensure reliable internet service, with discussions aimed at enhancing the nation’s digital infrastructure.
New Submarine Cable to Improve Internet Connectivity
To address these ongoing issues, Pakistan is set to benefit from a new undersea cable—part of the 2Africa Submarine Cable System—which promises to significantly enhance internet speed and reliability.
Expected to go live by the fourth quarter of 2025, the cable will connect 46 locations across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, offering a capacity of 180Tbps.
Currently, Pakistan relies on approximately 8 terabytes of bandwidth, but the new cable will greatly enhance internet performance, addressing long-standing issues with slow speeds and boosting connectivity for platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
The installation of the 2Africa cable began in December 2024, with plans for deep-sea cable laying to begin in April 2025.