ISLAMABAD – Pakistanis are likely to face more Internet disruptions amid a major fault in AAE-1 submarine cable, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said Thursday.
The national telcom regulator said the submarine fault was detected near Qatar, and is causing connectivity issues. Masses have been assured that technical teams are working to resolve the issue and continue monitoring the situation.
The country of over 240 million is frustrated as nation has already been grappling with snail-paced internet speed and frequent outages in recent months. The prolonged issues dented Pakistan’s IT industry, leading to substantial financial losses.
Pakistan Submarine Cable Fault
The country remained gripped with unprecedented internet disruptions, which the government calling it exaggerated concerns over a new firewall system. Millions are dealing with slow speeds and connectivity issues, with some platforms, including WhatsApp, TikTok, and Instagram, reporting outages in late months of 2024.
On the other hand, tech head said the government is testing some kind of firewall that could block specific content. Pakistan IT Minister downplayed the firewall concerns, stating it was a long-standing security measure and emphasizing the need to combat cyberattacks.
The coalition government members also ruled out plans to ban VPN access to curb illegal activities. Regarding the ban on X (formerly Twitter), the government said it was a diplomatic decision, as only 2% of Pakistanis used the platform.
