SMW-5 Fault Slows Internet Across Pakistan

News Desk

Islamabad: Internet users in several cities across Pakistan experienced slow connectivity and intermittent service disruptions on Thursday after a fault developed in an international submarine cable, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) confirmed.

Users reported difficulties accessing web browsing, social media platforms and other online services. Internet monitoring platform DownDetector also recorded a surge in complaints from different parts of the country, while many users took to social media platform X to report unusually slow internet speeds.

In a statement, the PTA said internet traffic had been affected due to a fault in the SMW-5 (SEA-ME-WE 5) international submarine cable.

“As a result, some users may experience intermittent connectivity and degraded internet service,” the regulator said.

The PTA said Trans World Associates (TWA), in coordination with the SMW-5 consortium, is investigating the cause of the fault and assessing the expected timeline for restoring normal services.

To minimize disruption, internet traffic is being rerouted through alternative international links to maintain service continuity as much as possible, the authority added.

The PTA said it is closely monitoring the situation and remains in contact with the relevant stakeholders to ensure the earliest possible restoration of internet services nationwide.

In a separate announcement, the PTA said its Device Identification, Registration and Blocking System (DIRBS) is undergoing a major upgrade to improve performance.

The authority said the DIRBS portal and all related services will remain temporarily unavailable from 5pm on July 3 until 4am on July 6.

According to the PTA, the upgraded locally developed system is expected to make mobile device registration more efficient and user-friendly for both consumers and businesses.