ISLAMABAD: Internet users across Pakistan may experience slower speeds during peak hours until November 2, 2026, as emergency maintenance is carried out on an international submarine cable connecting Italy and France, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) said.
The maintenance, which began on October 27, affects a section of the Asia-Africa-Europe 1 (AAE-1) submarine cable, potentially causing minor service degradation during busy periods, according to the telecommunications company.
PTCL said the work was necessary to address the cable issue and thanked customers for their patience while the maintenance was under way.
The impact may be more noticeable when users access online services hosted in Europe, particularly during evening peak hours. However, PTCL has not disclosed whether it plans to provide additional backup bandwidth to minimise disruptions during the repair period.
Why the AAE-1 cable matters
The AAE-1 submarine cable is a key part of Pakistan’s international internet infrastructure. Spanning approximately 25,000 kilometres, the system connects Southeast Asia with Europe through Egypt and has a landing point in Karachi.
PTCL brought the cable into service in Pakistan in 2017. Its European landing points include Greece, Italy and France, providing connectivity between Pakistan and international networks.
Consequently, maintenance on a section of the system can affect the performance of internet services that rely on its capacity, although the extent of any slowdown depends on network traffic and the availability of alternative routes.
Previous cable fault disrupted internet speeds
The AAE-1 system has previously been associated with internet disruptions in Pakistan. In January 2025, a fault near Qatar affected internet speeds nationwide for nearly two weeks, before PTCL announced that repairs had been completed.
The latest maintenance is scheduled to continue until November 2. Until then, users may notice intermittent slowdowns during periods of high demand, although the extent of the impact may vary by service and network.
