PTCL Attributes Slow Internet to Submarine Cable Fault
In broadband speeds, the country is ranked 141st out of 158 nations, with download speeds of 15.60 Mbps and upload speeds of 15.53 Mbps.
PTCL assures users that efforts are underway to resolve the issue.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has confirmed that slow internet speeds in the country are due to a fault in an international submarine cable.
“Teams are working diligently to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience caused,” PTCL stated on Friday.
The issue has persisted since last year, with the government citing submarine cable faults as the primary cause, though some reports suggest the authorities may be testing a “firewall.”
The slowdown is particularly affecting freelancers, who number over two million and are vital to Pakistan’s economy.
PTCL’s statement followed a report from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), which mentioned that the AAE-1 submarine cable near Qatar had developed a fault, impacting internet services.
The AAE-1 is one of seven undersea cables providing international connectivity to Pakistan.
“The concerned teams are working to fix the fault. PTA is monitoring the situation and will provide updates,” the authority said.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto criticized the frequent attacks on Pakistan’s undersea fibre optic cables, questioning why these incidents seem to target the country alone.
According to the Ookla Speedtest Global Index, Pakistan ranks 100th out of 111 countries in mobile internet speed, with a download speed of 20.61 Mbps and an upload speed of 8.53 Mbps.
In broadband speeds, the country is ranked 141st out of 158 nations, with download speeds of 15.60 Mbps and upload speeds of 15.53 Mbps.