Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) experienced a significant disruption in its internet services across the country on Wednesday, affecting users nationwide. The company acknowledged the issue, with spokesperson Amir Pasha stating, “PTCL network is facing data outage in various cities due to which connectivity has been affected.” PTCL teams are reportedly working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.
Impact on Internet and Broadband Users
The disruption has impacted not only PTCL users but also other internet service providers (ISPs) that rely on PTCL’s bandwidth. Malahat Obaid, a spokesperson for the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), confirmed that a fault in the PTCL system was the cause of the outage. “Internet/broadband users may experience degraded services during peak hours,” she noted, adding that efforts are underway to restore full service.
National Connectivity Significantly Reduced
Global internet monitoring service Netblocks reported a “nation-scale disruption” to internet connectivity in Pakistan, indicating that national connectivity was at only 24% of normal levels. This was corroborated by widespread user reports of internet issues. Downdetector, a platform that tracks outages, noted a sharp increase in reported issues with PTCL services, particularly from major cities including Karachi, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Multan.
PTCL’s Dominance in the Market Exacerbates Impact
Dr. Shahid Farooq Alvi, president of the Pakistan Telecommunication Access Provider Association (PTAPA), highlighted that PTCL provides 70% of the internet services in Pakistan, amplifying the impact of the outage. Users have taken to social media to express frustration, with many businesses and individuals relying heavily on stable internet connectivity for daily operations.
Previous Outages and Technical Issues
This incident is not the first of its kind, as PTCL’s network faced a brief disruption in April, which was also attributed to a technical issue. The recurrence of such disruptions has raised concerns among users about the reliability of internet services in the country.
