Faulty Undersea Cable Behind Recent Internet Disruptions in Pakistan, Official Reveals
ISLAMABAD (AP): A malfunctioning undersea internet cable has been identified as the cause of recent widespread internet slowdowns affecting millions of Pakistanis, the country’s leading telecommunications official announced on Wednesday. The problem is expected to be fixed by later this month.
The disruption has impacted nearly half of Pakistan’s 241 million population, with up to 40% slower internet speeds reported. This slowdown has notably hampered access to popular social media platforms, including WhatsApp, and has led to widespread frustration and business interruptions.
Hafeezur Rehman, Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), provided these details during a meeting with lawmakers in Islamabad. This marks the first official acknowledgment of the issue from the government, which had previously refuted claims that the slowdown was due to the installation of a national firewall.
Rehman explained that the technical issues stemmed from a fault in the undersea cable, which has been affecting internet performance across the country. He assured that the problem is expected to be resolved by August 27.
