Pakistan Internet Speeds Drop Due to Undersea Cable Fault Near Jeddah

Internet users across Pakistan continue to face slower connection speeds following damage to undersea cables near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The ongoing issue affects millions of users who struggle with reduced browsing and streaming quality.

Main Cause Behind Internet Slowdown

PTCL Group confirms that the fault has partially affected bandwidth on the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems. These two major undersea networks serve as Pakistan’s primary routes for international internet traffic.

The damage forces internet traffic to take alternate paths. This creates network congestion that becomes worse during evening hours when more people use the internet.

How PTCL Responds to the Crisis

PTCL takes several steps to reduce the impact on customers:

• International partnerships: International partners work on priority to restore damaged links.
• Local solutions: Local teams arrange alternate bandwidth to minimize disruptions.
• Customer updates: The company keeps users informed about repair progress
• Traffic management: Engineers work to balance load across working cable systems

What Users Experience During Outage

Pakistani internet users report these common issues:

• Slower website loading times
• Poor video streaming quality
• Delayed file downloads and uploads
• Connection drops during peak evening hours
• Reduced video call quality

The problems become more noticeable when internet demand increases between 6 PM and 11 PM.

Timeline for Full Service Recovery

PTCL assures that services will stabilize once repairs complete. However, undersea cable repairs require specialized equipment and favorable weather conditions.

Repair teams use special ships with advanced technology to fix underwater cables. The process can take several days to weeks depending on:

• Location of the damage
• Weather conditions at sea
• Availability of repair vessels
• Complexity of the cable fault

Previous Cable Issues in Pakistan

This marks another internet disruption for Pakistan in 2025. Earlier in January, damage to the AAE-1 submarine cable near Qatar caused similar connectivity issue

These recurring problems highlight Pakistan’s dependence on undersea cable infrastructure for international internet connectivity.

Impact on Daily Life and Business

The internet slowdown affects various sectors:

• Remote workers face productivity challenges
• Students struggle with online classes
• Businesses experience communication delays
• Entertainment streaming becomes difficult
• E-commerce transactions slow down

Users should expect intermittent service issues until repair work completes. PTCL advises customers to plan important online activities during off-peak hours for better connectivity.