According to information provided by PTCL, the international cable consortium will begin fixing a malfunctioning repeater at 11 a.m. on October 14, 2025. It is anticipated that the maintenance procedure will take about eighteen hours. Users may have intermittent internet problems, sluggish browsing speeds, and disruptions in video streaming during this time. According to a PTCL representative, the company’s engineers are collaborating closely with international partners to reduce user discomfort. The repair is necessary for long-term network stability and enhanced performance, the representative continued. Experts pointed out that Pakistan’s digital economy, which includes fintech services, online education, remote employment, and e-commerce, is highly dependent on internet access, so even short-term outages can have a significant impact on a number of industries.
Users have been encouraged by PTCL to schedule their online activity appropriately throughout the maintenance window. In the meantime, a significant step toward increasing internet connectivity nationwide has been taken with the announcement by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) of plans to provide licenses for Fixed Satellite Services (FSS). The goal of this program is to entice international businesses, such as Shanghai SpaceCom and Starlink, to offer satellite-based internet services in Pakistan, improving connection in underserved and distant areas. Under the PTA’s plan, licensed operators will be authorized to deploy ground-based gateway stations and Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSATs). Each license will cost USD 500,000, have a 15-year expiration date, and require service deployment to start within 18 months following approval.
