ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has identified a fault in the submarine cable as the cause of the recent internet disruption in Pakistan, according.
PTA Chairman Hafiz Rahman informed the Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Syed Aminul Haque, that a single submarine cable, which handles 7.5 terabits of data, had experienced a fault. The issue, affecting one of the seven fiber optic cables coming into Pakistan, is expected to be resolved by August 27.
Haque had inquired about the reasons for the disruption and the status of firewall systems. Rahman confirmed that the problem was isolated to the damaged cable and not a global issue. He also addressed concerns about the use of VPNs, clarifying that the disruption was specific to Pakistan’s cable infrastructure.
In contrast, Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima had previously suggested that the rise in VPN usage was to blame for the internet slowdown, claiming it put technical strain on the network. She noted that the increased use of VPNs occurred as some services faced restrictions, affecting overall internet speed.
The ongoing disruptions have been linked to the implementation of internet firewalls at major gateways, intended to monitor and filter traffic, while also tracing the source of objectionable content.
