Internet in Pakistan Slows Down Dramatically Due to Upstream Fault and Undersea Cable Cuts

Pakistan experienced a significant internet slowdown late Tuesday evening, leaving millions of users across major cities unable to access websites, stream content, or maintain stable connections. The connectivity issue impacted multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs), with platforms like Downdetector recording a sharp increase in user complaints related to high latency, timeouts, and packet loss. In an official statement, Nayatel, one of Pakistan’s leading fiber broadband providers, acknowledged the disruption. The company cited a technical fault at one of its upstream internet providers as the primary cause of the degradation in service quality. Engineers were immediately deployed, and a tentative resolution time was set for 1:15 a.m. local time.

This upstream issue comes amid ongoing network strain from recent undersea cable damage reported earlier this month in the Red Sea region—a critical hub for international internet traffic. According to telecom analysts and network monitoring organisations, recent disruptions to the SMW4 and IMEWE submarine cables—key components of the Asia-Europe internet corridor—have already forced traffic to reroute via longer paths. This rerouting has increased network latency and degraded internet speeds not only in Pakistan but across parts of the Middle East and South Asia. Experts warn that undersea cable repairs may take up to 4–5 weeks, leading to potential slowdowns during peak usage hours, even if local networks remain operational.

While a full fix is pending, affected users in Pakistan are encouraged to monitor real-time outage updates via platforms like Downdetector or ISP status pages. Try switching to alternative DNS services such as Google DNS (8.8.8.8) or Cloud flare (1.1.1.1). Use a VPN with servers based in Europe to bypass congested routes. Rely on mobile data connections where available. However, IT professionals caution that these are temporary workarounds and won’t fully restore performance until upstream bandwidth capacity returns to normal. With continued pressure on international bandwidth due to damaged undersea infrastructure, the risk of recurring internet slowdowns in Pakistan remains high in the coming weeks. Government agencies, ISPs, and international cable consortiums are coordinating efforts to accelerate repairs and minimise disruptions.