Internet users across the country are experiencing slow service, with difficulties uploading and downloading data, after a fault was detected in submarine internet cables near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. PTCL Group has confirmed that the disruption has partially affected the SMW4 and IMEWE cable bandwidths and said it is working with international partners and local teams to route traffic over alternative capacity and resolve the problem.
Customers have reported reduced internet speeds and interruptions to uploads and downloads over the past several days. PTCL acknowledged that the issue has persisted for multiple days and is the main reason for the service slowdowns experienced nationwide.
The fault has been traced to submarine cables near Jeddah, which has partially impacted the SMW4 and IMEWE systems. PTCL said the partial reduction in available international capacity is the cause of the degraded service.
PTCL is managing traffic by activating alternative bandwidth routes to reduce the impact on users. The company’s local teams are coordinating these temporary measures while working with international partner networks, which have prioritized repairs to restore full capacity.
PTCL warned that during peak usage periods, Pakistani customers may notice a mild dip in service quality. The company said it remains focused on minimizing disruption and thanked users for their patience as work continues to fully resolve the issue.
