• Internet services were restored nationwide after a four-month outage caused by an SMW4 underwater cable defect.
• Further expansions are planned with three new cables from Transworld International and PTCL.
• Slow internet speeds lag behind international standards, affecting the global digital economy.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) announced that internet services have been restored nationwide following the successful repair of the SMW4 underwater cable defect.

According to the news, the PTA reported the restoration of internet services after an outage lasting around four months, caused by defects in two underwater cables—the SMW4 in June and the AAE1 in August.

The restoration eliminated the 1750 Gbps shortfall. This follows the addition of the Pace cable in 2023, which enhanced capacity.

Further expansions are planned, with three new cables—two from Transworld International and one from PTCL—set to join the system within the next two years.

Pakistan has experienced slow internet for months, resulting in several social media outages that have frustrated the public.

The country’s internet speeds lag significantly behind international standards, threatening to leave Pakistan behind in the global digital economy.

Since February, authorities have restricted access to X. Recently, users can only access platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Snapchat via VPNs.

Essential functions, such as downloading files and sending voice notes, face disruptions, highlighting a concerning regression in digital connectivity.

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