ISLAMABAD: Internet users across Pakistan may notice slower internet speeds over the coming days because of scheduled maintenance on international submarine cable infrastructure (SMW5), according to officials.
Authorities said the work is part of routine maintenance to improve the stability and reliability of Pakistan’s international internet connections. While internet services are expected to remain available, users may experience slower speeds and temporary performance issues, especially during peak hours.
The temporary slowdown could affect several online activities, including web browsing, video streaming, online gaming, virtual meetings and other services that require high internet bandwidth.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) is closely monitoring internet traffic disruption caused by a fault in the SEA-ME-WE 5 (SMW5) international submarine cable system. As a result, some internet users may experience intermittent degradation in service quality and… pic.twitter.com/Ei2n5LtiMV
— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) July 2, 2026
Officials said they do not expect a nationwide internet outage during the maintenance period. The maintenance is designed to strengthen the country’s international internet infrastructure and improve network performance over the long term. Transworld Associate (TWA) is coordinating with the SMW5 Consortium to identify the root cause of the fault and determine the estimated time for restoration (ETTR).
Authorities have advised users to expect temporary fluctuations in internet speed until the work is completed. They said normal internet performance is expected to return once the maintenance process is finished.
Pakistan relies on international submarine cables to connect to the global internet. Regular maintenance helps keep these systems reliable and reduces the risk of technical problems in the future. Officials have not announced the exact date when the maintenance work will be completed but said the slowdown is expected to be temporary.
