PTA Announces Efforts to Repair Fault in AAE-1 Undersea Cable, Warning of Potential Internet Disruptions Across Pakistan
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced on January 2 that efforts are underway to repair a fault in the undersea Africa-Asia-Europe (AAE)-1 cable, cautioning that users across the country may experience disruptions in internet services.
PTA acknowledged, “This may impact internet and broadband user experience across Pakistan. The concerned teams are working to fix the fault”. The AAE-1 cable, operational since 2017, connects Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Pakistan, India, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Greece, Italy and France.
This is not the first time cable issues have disrupted Pakistan’s internet services. Earlier in 2024, similar faults were blamed for service slowdowns, though some businesses and internet providers had suggested the government’s monitoring of online traffic was a contributing factor. In August, the PTA clarified that these disruptions were due to technical faults in the undersea infrastructure.
Data from Ookla’s Speedtest Global Index for October 2024 shows that the country stands at 141 out of 158 nations for fixed broadband speeds, with a median speed of 15.6 Mbps. Range of 100 out of 111 countrywide mobile data median speed of 20.61 Mbps.
Earlier on January 1, during a Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology meeting, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Major General (Retd) Hafeezur Rehman dismissed widely circulated claims that sharks had damaged submarine cables, clarifying that technical issues, not wildlife, were responsible. Pakistan currently relies on seven submarine cables for internet connectivity, with an additional cable, “2 Africa,” expected to improve internet quality in the coming months.
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