ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): Internet users across Pakistan may experience slower speeds during peak hours until November 2, 2026, as emergency repairs continue on a major international submarine cable, the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) has announced.
According to PTCL, repair work is under way on the AAE-1 (Asia-Africa-Europe 1) submarine cable, specifically on the section connecting Italy and France.
The company said users may notice minor internet service degradation, particularly during busy hours, and urged customers to remain patient while the repair work continues.
Since the affected cable segment is located in Europe, users may experience slower loading times when accessing websites and online services hosted in European countries, especially during evening peak hours.
Why Is Internet Speed Being Affected in Pakistan?
The AAE-1 is a major international submarine cable system that carries internet traffic between Southeast Asia and Europe through Egypt, with a landing point in Karachi. Spanning approximately 25,000 kilometres, the cable plays an important role in Pakistan’s international internet connectivity.
PTCL began using the cable for its Pakistani operations in 2017. The system connects Pakistan to Europe through landing points in Greece, Italy and France.
The cable has experienced disruptions in the past. In January 2025, a fault near Qatar reportedly affected internet speeds across Pakistan for nearly two weeks before PTCL announced that the issue had been resolved.
PTCL has not yet confirmed whether additional backup bandwidth will be provided during the current repair work.
Internet users are advised to expect possible slowdowns during peak hours until the repairs are completed, although the extent of the impact may vary depending on the service and online destination.
