Submarine Cable Fault Causes Internet Disruption in Pakistan, PTA Confirms

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has identified a fault in a submarine cable as the cause of the recent internet disruption across Pakistan.

PTA Chairman Hafiz Rahman briefed the Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Syed Aminul Haque, on the issue. During the meeting, Syed Aminul Haque requested that the PTA inform the public about the reasons behind the disruption and inquired whether a firewall system was in place to mitigate such issues.

Chairman Rahman explained that 7.5 terabits of data are transmitted to Pakistan through a single submarine cable, which encountered a fault, leading to the disruption. He further elaborated that Pakistan is connected by seven fiber optic cables, one of which is currently damaged. The repairs are expected to be completed by August 27.

The committee members also raised concerns about the use of VPNs and the broader impact of the disruption on local internet services. In response, the PTA Chairman clarified that the issue is localized to Pakistan’s cable network and is not a global problem.