“Two Internet Cables Coming to Pakistan have been Affected, Repairing the Cables may take Four to Five Weeks,” IT Secretary

Pakistan’s internet users are set to experience slower speeds and service disruptions over the coming weeks after two major undersea cables near Yemen sustained damage, cutting off a significant portion of the country’s international connectivity.

Cables Cut, Internet Quality Impacted

According to IT Secretary Zarrar Hasham, between four to five cables in the affected region were severed, directly impacting internet performance in Pakistan. Since the incident, users nationwide have reported difficulties in web browsing, video streaming, and online communications.

To ease the pressure, authorities have rerouted bandwidth through alternative networks. However, Hasham stressed that this is a temporary solution and cannot fully meet the rising demand.

“Restoration requires specialized repair ships, which are not immediately available. The process could take four to five weeks before services return to normal,” Hasham explained.

Concern Raised in Parliament

The matter was also discussed during a National Assembly Standing Committee meeting in Islamabad, where lawmakers expressed serious concerns about the disruption’s impact on:

• Businesses, especially e-commerce and IT exports
• Education, with millions dependent on digital learning tools
• Everyday communication for the general public

Why This Matters

Industry experts pointed out that while undersea cable damage is not unusual, it underscores Pakistan’s overdependence on a few international cable routes.

They stressed that the country must:

• Diversify its internet infrastructure
• Invest in resilient backup systems
• Explore redundant connectivity options to minimize risks of future large-scale outages

What Users Should Expect

Until repairs are complete, users may continue to face:

• Slower browsing speeds
• Disruptions in streaming and downloads
• Service drops during peak hours

For now, full restoration of services will depend on the availability of cable repair operations, expected to take at least one month.