Impact of Damaged Sea Cables on Internet Connectivity in Pakistan
Overview
On April 27, internet services in Pakistan were severely disrupted due to damaged sea cables. The fiber optic link connecting Singapore, Pakistan, and Europe was broken near Indonesia, causing widespread outages in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
Details of the Incident
- Multiple breaks were discovered in the fiber optic cable, affecting internet services routed from the east.
- The restoration process is estimated to take around one month to fully repair the damaged cable.
- PTCL and Transworld are facing challenges with eastbound traffic as a result of the cable damage.
Impact on Internet Users
With less than 10% of internet traffic coming from the east, Pakistani consumers have been experiencing difficulties accessing the internet, especially during peak hours.
Measures Taken
To mitigate the impact, PTCL has redirected internet traffic from the east to alternative routes. However, customers may continue to face connectivity issues until the fiber optic cable is completely repaired.
Understanding Fiber Optic Cables
Definition
A fiber optic cable is a network cable composed of glass fibers enclosed in an insulated casing. These cables are designed for long-distance, high-performance data networking and communications.
Advantages
- Fiber optic cables have higher bandwidth capabilities compared to traditional cables.
- They can transmit data over longer distances efficiently.
- Fiber optic cables are essential for powering internet, cable television, and telephone services worldwide.
