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PTCL Addresses Internet Slowdown: Additional Bandwidth Restores Service, Meta Apps Still Affected
Internet users in Pakistan faced disruptions due to a fault in the AAE-1 subsea cable. PTCL claims to have addressed the bandwidth shortfall, but Meta apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram may still lag during peak hours. Full resolution expected soon.
ND
by News Desk
2025-01-09
PTCL Addresses Internet Slowdown: Additional Bandwidth Restores Service, Meta Apps Still Affected

Internet users across Pakistan reported slow internet speeds and limited access to services throughout late 2024 and into the new year. On January 3, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) identified the cause as a fault in the AAE-1 subsea internet cable, which connects Pakistan to the global network.


In response, PTCL announced that its teams were “diligently” working to resolve the disruptions. IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja confirmed on January 4 that approximately 80% of the bandwidth shortfall had been mitigated by diverting traffic to two other cables.


Today, PTCL spokesperson Aamir Pasha shared an update, stating that the telecom company had “added additional bandwidth,” which has significantly alleviated the internet slowness issue for most users. However, he cautioned that Meta-owned platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram may still experience reduced performance during peak usage hours.


“We expect complete resolution over the next few days,” the PTCL statement read, although it stopped short of providing a specific timeline. Both PTCL and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) assured users that they are working to resolve the issue at the earliest.


Despite these efforts, technical experts from PTCL suggested that repairing faults in subsea cables typically requires two to three months.

When asked about this timeline, Pasha refrained from commenting.


The situation highlights Pakistan’s heavy reliance on subsea cables for internet connectivity and raises concerns about infrastructure resilience.
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