Submarine Cable Cuts and Slow Internet in Pakistan
Almost all of Pakistan's international internet traffic travels through a handful of undersea fiber-optic cables that land near Karachi. When one is damaged, traffic is squeezed onto the remaining cables, so international websites, apps and games slow down across the country until the fault is repaired or traffic is rerouted.
Which cables connect Pakistan?
Pakistan is connected by several submarine cable systems, including SEA-ME-WE 4, SEA-ME-WE 5, IMEWE, AAE-1, TW1 and PEACE, with newer systems added over time. Having several cables gives backup capacity, but losing even one large system can cause noticeable slowdowns.
How do I know if a slowdown is a cable problem?
- Many friends on different ISPs report the same problem.
- Local Pakistani websites are fine, but international ones (YouTube, WhatsApp media, cloud tools) are slow.
- Ping to international servers rises sharply.
- ISPs or PTA publish a notice about an international link issue.
How long do repairs take?
A specialised repair ship must locate the fault, lift the cable and splice it. Depending on ship availability, weather and location, this can take from days to several weeks. ISPs usually restore partial capacity sooner by buying space on other cables.
What can I do in the meantime?
- Download large files at night or early morning.
- Lower video quality on streaming apps.
- Use local services where available.
- Do not change your router or ISP — the problem is upstream.
Frequently asked questions
Does changing my ISP help during a cable cut?
Sometimes slightly, if another ISP has more capacity on undamaged cables, but every ISP is affected to some degree.