Internet disruption to last 4-5 weeks: IT secretary

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.

The internet access monitoring organisation NetBlocks noted that a series of submarine cable outages in the Red Sea have degraded internet connectivity in several countries, including in India and Pakistan.

Responding to queries, 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 the secretary 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.

Damage to submarine cables is not uncommon. According to the International Cable Protection Committee, there are an average of 150 to 200 outages per year worldwide, or around three incidents a week.

Fishing and anchoring are believed to be responsible for the vast majority of recorded damage to the lines. Natural hazards to the cables also include ageing, abrasions and equipment failure.

The laying and operation of underwater cables have long been the preserve of a consortium of large telecoms operators, but internet giants have largely taken over in recent years as they strive to keep up with ballooning flows of data.

About 1.4 million kilometres (nearly 900,000 miles) of fiber optic cables are laid on the ocean floor, enabling the provision of essential services such as trade, financial transactions, public services, digital health and education around the world.