Fresh rumours of a nationwide internet slowdown resurfaced on social media this week, raising concern among internet users and business community before internet service providers and regulators stepped in to clarify that no disruption was expected.
The speculation began after Nayatel, a major broadband service provider, emailed its customers about a planned maintenance activity on one of Pakistan’s submarine cables scheduled for January 15 at around 2pm. The company said the maintenance could last up to eight hours and may cause internet slowness across Pakistan.
The message spread rapidly on social media, with many users fearing a repeat of past slowdowns that had disrupted online work, digital payments and communication services across the country.
Later, Nayatel issued a follow-up message, revising its earlier statement. The company said its upstream service provider had informed it that no slowdown was expected during the maintenance work and that internet services across Pakistan were likely to remain stable throughout the period.
Soon after, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) also issued a clarification, rejecting reports of any planned internet disruption. In a statement released late Tuesday, the regulator said information circulating about internet outages on January 15 was incorrect and without factual basis.
“Internet services across Pakistan remain stable and fully operational,” the PTA said, adding that routine submarine cable maintenance was under way and would not affect connectivity. The authority said it was continuously monitoring networks to ensure uninterrupted services.
Despite these reassurances, the episode once again highlighted the fragile public confidence in Pakistan’s internet infrastructure.
Conflicting messages, first warning of possible disruption and later denying it, created uncertainty among users, particularly freelancers, IT companies, digital entrepreneurs and online businesses that depend heavily on stable internet access.
Pakistan’s digital economy, which the government has repeatedly pledged to strengthen, remains highly sensitive to internet reliability.
Experts say even rumours of slowdowns can affect business confidence, disrupt remote work and weaken trust in digital platforms.
The incident has also revived debate over Pakistan’s heavy reliance on a limited number of submarine cables for international connectivity. While maintenance work on undersea cables is a routine global practice, analysts argue that such activities should be backed by strong redundancy plans and clearer public communication to prevent confusion and panic.
Industry observers say Pakistan needs a clear and transparent policy for internet resilience, including better backup capacity, closer coordination with service providers and well-defined communication protocols. They add that policymakers and key decision-makers must also seriously consider satellite-based internet services as part of the country’s long-term connectivity strategy.
As Pakistan seeks to promote digitalization and grow its digital economy, experts say diversified and reliable connectivity — including satellite internet — has become essential to support uninterrupted services and future growth.
Fresh rumours of a nationwide internet slowdown resurfaced on social media this week, raising concern among internet users and business community before internet service providers and regulators stepped in to clarify that no disruption was expected.
The speculation began after Nayatel, a major broadband service provider, emailed its customers about a planned maintenance activity on one of Pakistan’s submarine cables scheduled for January 15 at around 2pm. The company said the maintenance could last up to eight hours and may cause internet slowness across Pakistan.
The message spread rapidly on social media, with many users fearing a repeat of past slowdowns that had disrupted online work, digital payments and communication services across the country.
Later, Nayatel issued a follow-up message, revising its earlier statement. The company said its upstream service provider had informed it that no slowdown was expected during the maintenance work and that internet services across Pakistan were likely to remain stable throughout the period.
Soon after, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) also issued a clarification, rejecting reports of any planned internet disruption. In a statement released late Tuesday, the regulator said information circulating about internet outages on January 15 was incorrect and without factual basis.
“Internet services across Pakistan remain stable and fully operational,” the PTA said, adding that routine submarine cable maintenance was under way and would not affect connectivity. The authority said it was continuously monitoring networks to ensure uninterrupted services.
Despite these reassurances, the episode once again highlighted the fragile public confidence in Pakistan’s internet infrastructure.
Conflicting messages, first warning of possible disruption and later denying it, created uncertainty among users, particularly freelancers, IT companies, digital entrepreneurs and online businesses that depend heavily on stable internet access.
Pakistan’s digital economy, which the government has repeatedly pledged to strengthen, remains highly sensitive to internet reliability.
Experts say even rumours of slowdowns can affect business confidence, disrupt remote work and weaken trust in digital platforms.
The incident has also revived debate over Pakistan’s heavy reliance on a limited number of submarine cables for international connectivity. While maintenance work on undersea cables is a routine global practice, analysts argue that such activities should be backed by strong redundancy plans and clearer public communication to prevent confusion and panic.
Industry observers say Pakistan needs a clear and transparent policy for internet resilience, including better backup capacity, closer coordination with service providers and well-defined communication protocols. They add that policymakers and key decision-makers must also seriously consider satellite-based internet services as part of the country’s long-term connectivity strategy.
As Pakistan seeks to promote digitalization and grow its digital economy, experts say diversified and reliable connectivity — including satellite internet — has become essential to support uninterrupted services and future growth.
