The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on Friday announced that internet services nationwide have returned to normal after resolution of issues in the SEA-ME-WE 5 (SMW5) international submarine cable system.
In a statement, the PTA said the fault, which had caused widespread connectivity issues across the country on Thursday night, had been resolved. Consequently, it added, internet traffic had returned to normal.
According to the Authority, the international transit capacity of Transworld Associates (TWA) had been fixed. TWA is the only private-sector operator with exclusive ownership of submarine fiber-optic cable systems.
Earlier, the PTA had announced that a technical fault along the SMW5 route was affecting data traffic, slowing down browsing speeds and disrupting connectivity. “Some internet users may experience intermittent degradation in service quality and connectivity as a result of the fault,” it had said.
The Authority had further said TWA was coordinating with the SMW5 Consortium to identify the root cause of the fault and determine the estimated time for restoration. “In the meantime, internet traffic is being rerouted through alternate international links to minimize the impact and ensure service continuity to the greatest extent possible,” it said.
Internet disruptions caused by submarine cable faults are commonplace in Pakistan, despite claims of the government to expand connectivity and shift to a “Digital Pakistan.” Earlier this year, Information Technology and Telecommunication Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja had claimed prolonged and repeated power outages were among the major causes of slow internet services and deterioration in telecom quality.
In a written statement to the National Assembly, Khawaja had claimed the country’s international connectivity had improved with the landing of three submarine cables in recent years.