ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) announced that one of its submarine cables will undergo scheduled maintenance starting April 14, with repair work expected to continue until April 20.
The company cautioned users across the country about potential internet service degradation during this period, particularly during evening hours when usage typically peaks.
In this regard, the PTCL said the maintenance activity is part of routine efforts to ensure the long-term reliability and performance of its international connectivity infrastructure.
However, due to the nature of the repair work, customers may experience slower internet speeds or temporary disruptions, especially at times of high demand.
In this sense, the PTCL, a state-owned telecommunications provider, plays a central role in managing Pakistan’s global internet connectivity. The company currently operates three major undersea optical fibre cable systems that link the country to international data networks.
These submarine cables are critical for maintaining stable and high-speed internet access nationwide.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s overall international bandwidth capacity is supported by six submarine cable systems. In addition to PTCL’s three cables, two are operated by Trans World Associates (Pvt) Ltd, while one is managed by Cyber Internet Services through the PEACE cable network.
Pakistan’s current internet usage fluctuates between 7 and 8 Tbps, indicating that sufficient redundancy exists within the system to manage traffic even during maintenance periods.
However, experts note that any temporary reduction in available capacity especially during peak hours can still lead to noticeable slowdowns for users.
So far, the PTCL has advised customers to plan their internet usage accordingly and assured that efforts are underway to complete the repair work as quickly and efficiently as possible. The company also focused on that all necessary measures are being taken to minimize inconvenience to consumers and ensure uninterrupted connectivity to the greatest extent possible.
