# Internet slow in Pakistan until 2 November: AAE-1 submarine cable maintenance, PTCL says

Source: Searchable (https://searchable.pk/news/technology/internet-slow-in-pakistan-until-2-november-aae-1-submarine-cable-maintenance)
Type: News article
Author: Searchable Editorial
Published: 28 Oct 2026
Updated: 28 Oct 2026
Retrieved: 28 Oct 2026

> Repairs on the Italy-France section of AAE-1 began on 27 October. Expect slower evening speeds, especially on European-hosted services.

**Internet slow in Pakistan:** users may see slower speeds at peak hours **until 2 November 2026** while emergency maintenance is carried out on the AAE-1 submarine cable, PTCL has said. The work began on Tuesday 27 October on the stretch of cable between Italy and France, and PTCL warned of "minor service degradation" during busy hours, [ProPakistani reported](https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/28/internet-in-pakistan-to-slow-down-till-next-week/).

## The key facts

| | |
|---|---|
| Cable | AAE-1 (Asia-Africa-Europe 1) |
| Section under repair | Italy to France |
| Started | Tuesday 27 October 2026 |
| Expected to last until | Sunday 2 November 2026 |
| Who announced it | PTCL |
| Expected effect | Slower speeds at peak hours |

## Why one cable in Europe matters in Karachi

AAE-1 is one of the main routes carrying Pakistan's international internet traffic. The roughly 25,000-kilometre system runs from South East Asia to Europe through Egypt and lands in Pakistan at Karachi; PTCL began operating it here in 2017. Its European landing points are in Greece, Italy and France.

Because the work is on the European end, the slowdown is most likely when you reach services hosted in Europe, and in the evening, when the most people are online. Local sites and services cached inside Pakistan should be less affected. PTCL has not said whether it will add backup capacity on other cables during the maintenance window.

## What you can do this week

- **Plan big downloads** (game updates, phone backups, large files) for early morning, when traffic is lowest.
- **Lower video quality** on YouTube or streaming apps in the evening if playback keeps stopping.
- **Freelancers and remote workers** should keep a mobile data bundle as a backup for calls and uploads that cannot wait. Compare data offers on our [mobile packages comparison](/compare/mobile-packages), and if you are topping up often, see what you actually pay with the [mobile load tax calculator](/tools/telecom/mobile-load-tax-calculator).
- If your connection drops completely, rather than just slowing, that is a separate fault: report it to your provider.

## It has happened before

In January 2025, a fault on AAE-1 near Qatar slowed internet across Pakistan for nearly two weeks before PTCL said it had been repaired. This time the work is planned maintenance with an end date, so the impact should be smaller and shorter.

## Frequently asked questions

**Why is the internet slow in Pakistan this week?**

PTCL says emergency maintenance on the AAE-1 submarine cable between Italy and France, from 27 October to 2 November 2026, may slow speeds at peak hours.

**When will internet speed return to normal?**

PTCL expects the maintenance to finish by 2 November 2026.

## Sources

- Internet in Pakistan to Slow Down Till Next Week (ProPakistani): https://propakistani.pk/2026/10/28/internet-in-pakistan-to-slow-down-till-next-week/

How to cite: "Internet slow in Pakistan until 2 November: AAE-1 submarine cable maintenance, PTCL says", Searchable, 28 Oct 2026, https://searchable.pk/news/technology/internet-slow-in-pakistan-until-2-november-aae-1-submarine-cable-maintenance