PTCL Internet Outage Hits Pakistan: Nationwide Disruptions Affect Multiple ISPs

On Tuesday evening, Pakistan experienced a major internet disruption, with Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) users reporting widespread connectivity issues across the country. The outage, which began around 9:30 PM (PKT), quickly escalated into thousands of complaints, according to monitoring service Downdetector, with over 2,400 reports logged within minutes.

Cities and Users Impacted

Subscribers in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar, and other major urban hubs reported either a complete blackout of internet access or severe slowdowns. While PTCL bore the brunt of the disruption, other internet service providers (ISPs) also showed signs of instability, suggesting the issue extended beyond a single operator.

Possible Causes Behind the Outage

Though the company has not released full technical details, industry experts point to fiber backbone failures or international submarine cable disruptions as the most likely culprits. Pakistan’s internet ecosystem relies heavily on these global undersea cable systems, and past nationwide blackouts have often been traced back to faults in this infrastructure.

PTCL’s Official Response

In a statement, a PTCL spokesperson acknowledged the disruption, confirming that both PTCL broadband and Ufone mobile data services were impacted:

“We are currently experiencing data connectivity challenges and our technical teams are working tirelessly to restore services. We sincerely regret the inconvenience caused to our valued customers.”

Upstream Provider Challenges

Unofficial reports indicate that the issue may stem from an upstream service provider, which explains why multiple ISPs were simultaneously affected. If confirmed, this aligns with past patterns where Pakistan’s dependency on limited upstream routes and cables has left the country vulnerable to widespread connectivity breakdowns.

Users Shift to Mobile Data Amid Congestion

With PTCL and fixed-line services unreliable, users turned to cellular data networks as a backup. However, the sudden surge in mobile internet usage created network congestion, leading to slower browsing speeds and patchy performance across telecom operators.

A Recurring Challenge for Pakistan’s Internet Infrastructure

This incident adds to a growing list of nationwide internet outages Pakistan has faced over the past decade. Each time, the root cause has often been linked to submarine cable faults or fiber network damages, which require significant repair time and highlight the fragility of the country’s digital backbone.

Source:

Looking for insights beyond connectivity? Explore the latest trends in real estate in Pakistan.