Internet users across Pakistan are expected to experience significant service disruptions on Tuesday as Pakistan Telecommunications Limited begins maintenance work on a faulty repeater in the country’s submarine cable system. The planned activity is scheduled to start at 11:00 AM PST on October 14 and may last for up to 18 hours, potentially affecting nationwide connectivity throughout the day.
PTCL has confirmed that during the maintenance window, users may face slower internet speeds and degraded service quality. The company acknowledged the inconvenience and stated that efforts are being made to complete repairs as quickly as possible to restore normal operations.
Reports of limited access to platforms like Facebook and Instagram have already started surfacing, with data from Downdetector showing a noticeable increase in user complaints over the past 24 hours. These issues appear to be linked to the broader infrastructure strain caused by the cable fault.
This is not the first time Pakistan’s internet services have been impacted by undersea cable problems. Last month, PTCL flagged potential disruptions due to cable damage in Saudi waters, which also affected internet speeds during peak usage periods.
The current maintenance effort follows a weekend of mobile internet shutdowns in major cities such as Islamabad and Lahore, where services were suspended due to protests by Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan. The overlapping disruptions have raised concerns about the resilience and reliability of Pakistan’s digital infrastructure, especially during periods of political or technical instability.