The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has confirmed that internet services across the country are now working normally again. The announcement came after a technical fault in an international submarine cable system was fully repaired. This issue had affected internet users in different areas of Pakistan and caused slow browsing and weak connections.
PTA Confirms Internet Services Back to Normal After Submarine Cable Fault
According to PTA, the situation has now returned to normal. Internet traffic across the country is stable again, and users should not face major connectivity problems. The authority said the problem has been fully resolved after repair work on the undersea system. In a separate development, discussions around Pakistan Satellite Internet Approval 2026 are also gaining attention as the country moves toward improving future internet infrastructure.
SEA-ME-WE 5 Cable Fault Caused Disruption
PTA explained that the issue was linked to the SEA-ME-WE 5 (SMW5) submarine cable system. This is an important international internet cable that connects Pakistan with other countries. When the fault occurred, it caused widespread internet disruption on Thursday night. The administration had earlier cautioned users that they could experience low internet speeds or poor connectivity. People faced problems in accessing websites, video streaming, and online services due to temporary poor quality of the internet.
Repair Work Completed and Traffic Normalized
On Friday, PTA officially announced that the fault had been fixed. After the repair, internet traffic started returning to normal levels across the country. The authority confirmed that service quality has now been restored. PTA also said that Transworld Associates (TWA) had restored its international transit capacity. TWA is a private company that owns and operates submarine fibre-optic cable systems. Its role is important in managing Pakistan’s international internet connectivity.
After the repair work, internet service providers also shared updates. Nayatel confirmed that international internet traffic had returned to normal. The company added that its technical teams are still monitoring the system to ensure stable performance. According to PTA, there was rerouting of internet traffic via alternate international routes in order to minimize the effect on consumers and ensure smooth operation of services till the problem was sorted out.
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Before the issue was resolved, PTA had already informed the public about the fault in the SMW5 cable route. It explained that engineers were working to identify the problem and estimate the time needed for full restoration. At that time, PTA said that internet quality might temporarily drop for some users. The authority assured that it was working closely with all stakeholders to restore services as quickly as possible. In related policy updates, discussions around PTA Internet Licenses Pakistan 2026 are also being noted as part of broader efforts to expand and improve internet services in the country.
New Submarine Cable System in Pakistan
Pakistan has also recently improved its internet infrastructure with a new submarine cable system. In November, the SEA-ME-WE 6 cable landed in Pakistan. This new system is designed to support much higher internet capacity. According to the Ministry of Information Technology, SEA-ME-WE 6 has a total capacity of more than 100 terabits per second. It provides one of the fastest and lowest-latency internet routes between Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Western Europe. The ministry also said Pakistan has been allocated 13.2 terabits per second from this system. It added that the new cable includes more fibre pairs and more than double the capacity of earlier systems, improving reliability and reducing pressure on older networks.
Ongoing Internet Challenges in Pakistan
Some other concerns regarding the services on the internet within the country have also been raised by the authorities. These concerns include electricity failure, poor backup systems, difficult terrain in certain regions, security concerns, and maintenance delays.
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Fibre cuts, equipment thefts, and backhaul disruptions have been known to affect service quality too. However, Pakistan’s international connectivity has been upgraded in the recent past due to submarine cables and fibre network upgrades in the country. There have also been increased numbers of fibre-based broadband connections in the country. PTA has declared that all services have been restored in Pakistan following the repair of the SEA-ME-WE 5 submarine cable. The internet services have resumed to their normal levels as all systems are being monitored for stability. News source eTimes Pakistan.
