Will internet services face degradation, disruption today in Pakistan?

ISLAMABAD, 15 January 2026 – Rumours about a nationwide internet outage in Pakistan spread rapidly on social media today, raising concerns among internet users. However, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has confirmed that internet services remain fully operational.

PTA Denies Internet Disruption

The PTA took to X to clarify the situation. The authority stated:

“Information regarding any disruption of internet services on 15 January is incorrect and without factual basis.”

The PTA explained that routine maintenance of submarine internet cables is underway. Officials assured the public that this maintenance will not affect internet speed, access, or connectivity across the country.

Causes of Past Internet Slowdowns

While Pakistan’s internet remains stable today, slow speeds and temporary disruptions are common. Experts attribute such issues to:

• Maintenance of undersea submarine cables

• Limited spectrum availability

• Network security upgrades

Last month, the Economic Coordination Committee approved the auction of the 600 MHz spectrum. This move is expected to improve mobile internet speeds and facilitate the roll-out of 5G services nationwide.

Pakistan’s Internet Speed and Global Ranking

According to Ookla Speedtest Global Index, Pakistan ranked 97th globally in mobile internet speed in November 2025, with an average of 24.79 Mbps. Fixed broadband performed worse, ranking 146th worldwide with a download speed of 18.27 Mbps.

SEA-ME-WE 6 Cable Boosts Internet Capacity

In November 2025, Pakistan expanded its international connectivity with the South-East Asia–Middle East–Western Europe (SEA-ME-WE) 6 submarine cable system.

• The 19,200-kilometre fibre network connects Pakistan to digital hubs from Singapore to France

• The system offers over 100 terabits per second (Tbps) capacity

• Pakistan received 13.2 Tbps, with 4 Tbps activated immediately

This new capacity is expected to significantly enhance cloud computing, data centres, fintech, e-commerce, streaming platforms, and the broader digital economy in Pakistan.

PTA Advisory for Internet Users

PTA advised users to remain calm and ignore false social media rumours. Officials also encouraged reporting genuine network issues through official channels rather than relying on unverified posts online.