Scheduled maintenance on a key submarine internet cable will cause slow speeds and partial internet outages across Pakistan on January 15, 2026. Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have already informed users about the upcoming disruption, advising them to prepare for reduced connectivity during the maintenance window.
Reason Behind the Internet Disruption
The disruption is linked to planned repair and maintenance work on an international submarine fiber-optic cable that carries a large portion of Pakistan’s internet traffic. These undersea cables are critical for connecting Pakistan to the global internet infrastructure, and any work on them can impact overall bandwidth availability.
According to service providers, the maintenance is unavoidable and necessary to ensure long-term stability and performance of international connectivity.
Expected Timing and Duration
The maintenance work is scheduled to begin at approximately 2:00 PM (PST) on January 15 and may continue for up to eight hours. During this period, users may experience:
- Slow internet speeds
- Increased latency
- Buffering during streaming
- Temporary connection drops
The impact may vary depending on location, network load, and individual internet service providers.
ISPs Warn Users in Advance
Several ISPs, including Nayatel, have issued advance notifications to customers, warning about possible service degradation during the maintenance period.
“An unavoidable maintenance activity is planned on one of Pakistan’s submarine cables, which may cause internet slowness across Pakistan. Inconvenience is regretted,” an ISP notice stated.
This warning allows users and businesses to plan their online activities accordingly.
Why Submarine Cables Are Critical for Pakistan
Pakistan relies heavily on a limited number of submarine cables for international internet access. These cables connect the country to global data hubs in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. When a cable undergoes maintenance or develops a fault, networks reroute traffic through alternative paths, often causing congestion and slower speeds.
Experts note that Pakistan’s dependence on a small number of international links makes the country vulnerable to frequent slowdowns during maintenance or unexpected faults.
Recent Internet Issues Highlight Ongoing Challenges
The upcoming slowdown follows earlier internet disruptions in January 2026, when users across Pakistan reported degraded connectivity due to upstream provider issues. These recurring incidents have raised concerns about the resilience of Pakistan’s internet infrastructure.
Industry analysts emphasize the need for diversifying international connectivity routes and expanding redundancy to reduce the impact of such outages in the future.
