Millions of internet users in Pakistan are currently dealing with noticeable connectivity problems, such as slower speeds and irregular service, as of today, October 14, 2025. This nationwide decline is a planned, necessary maintenance activity on one of the nation’s most important underwater cable systems, not a suspension or failure related to security.
This Pakistan’s 18-hour internet slowdown is necessary to ensure the long-term stability of Pakistan’s connection to the global digital world, even though it is difficult for both individuals and businesses.
The Technical Reason for the Slowdown
An international underwater communication cable is undergoing planned maintenance, which is the direct cause of the current slowdown. An international cable consortium is in charge of the project, and Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) is a local partner.
A broken repeater in the submarine cable is the specific maintenance target. Along the thousands of kilometres of fibre optic cable that run under the ocean, repeaters extremely specialised devices are positioned at regular intervals.
Their only function is to boost the data’s light signal so it gets to its destination without weakening. A bottleneck is created when a repeater malfunctions or fails, greatly decreasing the cable’s data passing capacity.
Repairing a fault on a deep-sea cable is an elaborate operation that requires sending out repair ships, which is why the maintenance window is so extensive.
Maintenance Timeline and Scope of Impact
The scheduled activity officially commenced on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, around 11:00 AM Pakistan Standard Time (PST).
The official forecast from PTCL indicates the maintenance could last for up to 18 hours. This means that users across the country will face this shutdown almost a day even in night. Full restoration is expected to occur late on Tuesday or in the early hours of Wednesday, October 15.
A maintenance activity is planned on one of our Submarine cables to repair a faulty repeater. The activity will start on October 14, 2025 around 11am PST which can last for up to 18 hours,” the authority said in a statement. Resource: GEO TV
The slowdown is impacting users nationwide, affecting:
- Fixed-Line Broadband: Users with DSL, Fiber, and Cable connections from all providers will experience slower international traffic speeds.
- Mobile Internet: 3G and 4G services on mobile networks are also affected, as they ultimately rely on the same international bandwidth pool.
Any task requiring significant international bandwidth. Such as high-definition video streaming, large file downloads, cloud services, and international video conferencing will be the most impacted. Users may also notice difficulties accessing international social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and X.
Why This Planned Maintenance is Important
Even though the decline is frustrating, Pakistan’s digital future depends on the repair’s preventative nature.
- Preventing Catastrophic Failures: A faulty repeater is an immediate threat to the entire cable system. Fixing it now, in a controlled and planned manner, prevents a sudden, complete outage that could last for weeks, causing far greater economic and social disruption.
- Infrastructure Reliability: Pakistan’s internet backbone relies on a handful of international submarine cable systems (including SEA-ME-WE 4, SEA-ME-WE 5, IMEWE, AAE-1, and PEACE). Maintaining these links is essential for the nation’s digital economy, which includes a burgeoning IT sector reliant on stable connectivity for international exports.
- Ensuring Quality of Service: This pre-emptive maintenance is part of regular global network upkeep aimed at improving the long-term quality of service for all users by ensuring the country’s current internet capacity remains fully functional.
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Mitigation Efforts by Telecommunication Providers
In anticipation of the work, telecom operators have taken steps to minimize the disruption. The primary mitigation strategy is rerouting internet traffic to other available international cable systems.
However, these alternate cables have limited excess capacity, which is precisely why the slowdown is still widely felt. This process ensures that basic services remain operational, but the total available bandwidth for the country is temporarily constrained.
Tips for Users During the Slowdown
To manage your online activities effectively during this 18-hour window, consider the following:
- Prioritize Essential Communications: Focus on text-based communication (email, messaging) over voice or video calls.
- Schedule High-Bandwidth Tasks: Postpone major software updates, large file uploads, and heavy streaming until after the estimated completion time.
- Use Local Services: Websites and services hosted within Pakistan will likely be less affected than international sites.
- Practice Patience: The slowdown is temporary. Service is expected to normalize once the engineering teams complete the complex repair and testing process.
The current national internet degradation is a reminder of the massive, hidden infrastructure that powers our daily digital lives. While frustrating, this 18-hour commitment to essential maintenance will ensure a more stable and reliable internet experience for Pakistan in the coming months. Users are advised to check official channels from their internet service providers for any real-time updates on the restoration process.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
1. What is the reason for the nationwide internet slowdown today?
Answer: The slowdown is due to a planned maintenance activity on one of Pakistan’s international submarine communication cables. An international consortium is repairing a faulty repeater within the undersea cable system.
2. Is this a complete internet shutdown?
Answer: No. This is a period of service degradation and slower speeds, not a complete shutdown. Traffic is being rerouted through alternative cables, but the overall national bandwidth is temporarily reduced, causing slowness.
3. How long is this maintenance expected to last?
Answer: The maintenance activity officially started around 11:00 AM PST on October 14, 2025, and is expected to last for up to 18 hours. Service should begin to normalize late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.
4. Which services are most affected by the slowdown?
Answer: Services that rely heavily on international bandwidth are most affected. This includes high-definition video streaming, online gaming, large file downloads, and access to international websites and social media platforms.
5. Why is this maintenance necessary if it causes such disruption?
Answer: The maintenance is essential to fix a fault in the cable’s equipment (the repeater). Performing this planned repair now ensures the long-term stability and reliability of Pakistan’s internet connection, preventing a larger, unplanned outage in the future.
