‘Dual cut’ in submarine cable disrupts internet services across Pakistan

Alternate arrangements to provide uninterrupted internet services to the users have been made, says PTA

Some internet users on Tuesday experienced downgraded speeds due to “dual cut” in one of the international submarine cables, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) said.

“Dual cut in the terrestrial segment of SEAMEWE-5 between the cities of Abu Talab and Zafrana in Egypt have been reported,” the PTA said on its official Twitter handle.

The telecommunication authority said alternate arrangements to provide uninterrupted internet services to the users have been made. “Work is underway to remove the fault,” it added.

Dual cut in the terrestrial segment of SEAMEWE-5 between the cities of Abu Talab and Zafrana in Egypt have been reported. Alternate arrangements to provide uninterrupted #internet services to the users have been made.
Work is underway to remove the fault.

— PTA (@PTAofficialpk) November 29, 2022

Private internet provider Transworld Home said in a statement that its services are currently affected due to multiple international cables damaged near Egypt.“Therefore, you might face slow browsing. Our teams are working to resolve the issue on top priority,” it added.

NetBlocks, which tracks connectivity around the world, tweeted that the internet disruption has impacted several countries including Pakistan, Indonesia, Djibouti, Eritrea, Yemen, Oman, Somalia and Chad.

ℹ️ Confirmed: Real-time network data show an internet disruption impacting multiple countries; the incident is consistent with a subsea cable cut 📉 pic.twitter.com/VGo482CNye

— NetBlocks (@netblocks) November 29, 2022

The spokesperson of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) said that they are in conjunction with the International Submarine Consortium that is working to fully restore internet services on priority.

Moreover, the PTCL has ample bandwidth on alternate cables to cater to data needs.