Internet services across Pakistan are expected to remain slow until “early October,” as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced on Wednesday that repairs to the submarine cable causing the disruptions are likely to be completed by then.
Read More: Govt & PTA Blame on VPNs for Internet Slowdown
Internet speeds have significantly declined over the past few weeks. Users are experiencing difficulties in sending or downloading media and voice notes via WhatsApp when connected to mobile data, and browsing speeds have also slowed down, even on broadband.
The business community and internet service providers (ISPs) have alleged that the government’s efforts to monitor internet traffic, including the installation of a so-called “firewall,” have contributed to the slowdown, leading to economic losses.
However, Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja confirmed that the government is upgrading its “web management system” to address cybersecurity threats but firmly denied reports that the government is “throttling” the internet.
Last week, the PTA attributed the internet slowdown to a faulty submarine cable and dismissed concerns that the state is installing a firewall. In a statement issued today, the PTA reiterated that the ongoing slowdown is mainly due to faults in two submarine cables (SMW4 and AAE-1) connecting Pakistan internationally. The PTA noted that the SMW-4 cable is expected to be repaired by early October 2024, while the AAE-1 cable has already been repaired, which may improve internet performance.
Previously, PTA Chairman Hafeezur Rehman, a retired major general, had informed a National Assembly panel that the damaged submarine cable would be repaired by August 27. However, delays have persisted.
The PTA also informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) that the submarine cable fault, a misconfiguration in an ISP’s system, and possible cyberattacks on August 15 contributed to the slowdown. Additionally, the government has blamed the widespread use of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), which have surged due to the prolonged ban on social media platform X.
Amnesty International has called on Pakistani authorities to provide greater transparency on the nationwide internet slowdown and the use of monitoring and surveillance technologies.
