PTA blames internet slowdown in Pakistan on high usage & cable issues

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been experiencing significant internet disruptions in recent weeks, causing social media applications, particularly Meta’s applications, including Facebook and WhatsApp, to slow down.

Users across the country have reported problems accessing these platforms, leading to concerns and complaints.

In a recent document submitted to the National Assembly, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) attributed these problems to the overuse of these applications. With nearly 50 million users on Facebook and WhatsApp, the most popular real-time messaging app in Pakistan, the PTA said this increase in demand has significantly affected the quality of service. “Consumers were informed that the internet speed will be reduced during peak hours,” noted a PTA spokesperson.

Despite the PTA’s claims in September that the slowdown had been resolved, customers continued to report service disruptions. The document also cites additional factors contributing to the internet woes, including a statement from the minister in charge of the Cabinet Division, which highlighted problems with the SMW4 submarine cable. In June 2024, this cable cut resulted in a massive data loss of 1.5 terabytes per second.

This situation was exacerbated by a subsequent fault in the AAE-1 cable, which resulted in an additional loss of 0.25 terabytes per second. The PTA has expressed hope that the rehabilitation of the SMW4 submarine cable will help normalize internet services and restore full functionality to consumers across the country.

As users continue to navigate the challenges posed by these barriers, PTA’s commitment to addressing the underlying issues will be critical to improving Internet connectivity in Pakistan.