ISLAMABAD – Internet users across Pakistan may experience slower connectivity during peak hours over the coming days as maintenance work on a major international submarine cable is underway.
Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) said the disruption is expected to last until November 2 (Monday).
It has indicated that repair work on the Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE-1) cable could affect internet service quality in the country, particularly during periods of high demand.
The maintenance operation began on October 27 along a section of the cable linking Italy and France. PTCL has warned that the work may lead to a temporary decline in internet performance for users in Pakistan.
The impact could be more noticeable during busy evening hours, especially when accessing websites and online services hosted on European servers.
Why is Internet Speed Expected to Slow?
The AAE-1 submarine cable serves as one of Pakistan’s important international internet connections, carrying traffic between the country and overseas destinations, including Europe.
Maintenance on this infrastructure can affect the performance of services that depend on the cable route. As a result, users may experience slower loading times or reduced connection speeds during peak usage periods while the work is underway.
However, the expected disruption is linked to service performance, and the information provided does not indicate a complete nationwide internet shutdown.
When Will Internet Speeds Return to Normal?
According to the maintenance timeline shared by PTCL, the work is expected to continue until November 2. Internet users may therefore experience intermittent slowdowns during peak hours until the maintenance period ends.
