Myths vs. Facts: What Pakistan’s internet slowdown reveals about undersea cable fixes

On October 14, 2025, the Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) announced a possible slowdown in internet services across the country. The slowdown is caused by scheduled maintenance work on one of the undersea cables connecting Pakistan to the global network.

According to reports, the repair work started around 11 AM (PST) and could take up to 18 hours. The issue was linked to a faulty repeater—a device that helps strengthen signals along the cable.

PTCL confirmed that internet services would not completely go offline, as traffic is being rerouted through alternative cables to minimize the impact. Users may, however, experience slow speeds or brief disconnections during this period.

Internet Slowdowns Are Nothing New for Pakistan

With over 100 million internet users, Pakistan has faced many similar disruptions in recent years. Technical faults, cable damage, maintenance, or government restrictions usually cause these outages.

Experts say that in the past five years, the number of internet disruptions has increased from just a few per year to over two dozen annually in 2025. Pakistan is also ranked among the top 10 countries most affected by deliberate or accidental internet outages.

Common Myths About Undersea Cable Repairs

Myth 1: Sharks Damage Undersea Cables

A popular myth claims that sharks or whales bite undersea cables, causing internet failures. While there were rare cases in the 1980s, modern fiber-optic cables do not attract sea creatures.
In fact, over 70% of cable faults are caused by human activities, such as fishing or ship anchors, while natural events like earthquakes cause the rest.

The PTCL issue on October 14 was purely technical, caused by a repeater fault—not sea life.

Myth 2: Repairs Are Quick and Companies Delay on Purpose

Some people believe companies exaggerate repair times. However, undersea cable repairs are complex and time-consuming. Detecting the fault, sending a repair ship, retrieving the cable, and fixing it can take days or even weeks.
PTCL’s 18-hour repair window actually reflects a fast and focused maintenance effort.

Myth 3: A Single Cable Break Can Shut Down the Entire Internet

This is false. Most countries, including Pakistan, are connected to multiple undersea cables like AAE-1, IMEWE, and TW1.

When one cable is affected, internet traffic automatically shifts to others. This means users may face slower speeds but complete blackouts are rare.

The Bigger Picture

Globally, there are over 1.4 million km of undersea cables, and maintenance is a continuous process. Companies are now using AI and advanced monitoring systems to detect issues faster.

Still, Pakistan continues to suffer major financial and social losses during internet disruptions—estimated at over $3 billion in the past five years. These outages affect freelancers, e-commerce, online education, and healthcare services, while also damaging the country’s digital reputation.

Final Thoughts

While the October 14 internet slowdown caused temporary inconvenience, it was a necessary maintenance effort to keep the system stable. It also served as a reminder of Pakistan’s growing dependence on digital connectivity.

Understanding the facts behind such repairs can help reduce panic and misinformation. Rather than blaming “sharks” or “hidden agendas,” it’s better to stay informed and patient — knowing that these brief interruptions help ensure smoother, stronger internet access in the long run.

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