IT Secretary Dr Zarar Hashim on Thursday said that the recent disruption in Pakistan’s internet services due to damaged undersea cables could take four to five weeks to be fully resolved.
Undersea cable cuts earlier this month in the Red Sea disrupted internet access across parts of Asia and the Middle East, though the exact cause of the incident remains unclear. Few of the affected cables directly impact connectivity to Pakistan, slowing down internet services.
Responding to queries regarding internet disruptions and slow speeds, Dr Hashim explained that repairing the cables requires specialised ships.
“Three additional cables are expected within 12 to 18 months, which will enhance Pakistan’s connectivity with Europe. Agreements to bring these cables to Pakistan have already been signed,” he added.
The briefing was part of a meeting of the Standing Committee on IT and Telecom held at Islamabad IT Park. Committee member Sadiq Memon raised concerns about internet slowness and disruption. “If three new cables are coming, why are there still internet issues?” Memon questioned.
To this Secretary IT responded that multiple submarine cables — four to five in total — have been damaged off the coast of Yemen, significantly disrupting regional internet connectivity.
He added that the situation has worsened due to the ongoing conflict in Yemen, which has hampered timely repair efforts. “This is not just one or two cables; several have been affected,” he noted.
Undersea cables are one of the backbones of the internet, along with satellite connections and land-based cables. Typically, internet service providers have multiple access points and reroute traffic if one fails, though it can slow down access for users.
