KARACHI: WhatsApp and Instagram users in Pakistan reported outages on Saturday, while interruptions in internet services provided by Zong and PTCL were also rep­orted, Dawn.com reported.

Instagram users rep­orted a maximum of 86 outages in one hour, with WhatsApp users reporting problems since 10:45am, particularly with sending voice notes, Downdetector said, adding that network providers Zong and PTCL had also reported outages since morning.

The Pakistan Telecom­m­u­nications Authority (PTA) had yet to comment on the reported outages till going to press.

In August, the PTA said that internet services acr­oss the country were exp­ected to remain slow till “early October”, since the submarine cable responsible for the disruptions would likely be repaired by then.

“The ongoing internet slowdown across the country is mainly due to [a] fault in two (SMW4, AAE-1) of the seven international submarine cables connecting Pakistan internationally,” the PTA had said

“It is updated that [the] fault in SMW-4 submarine cable is likely to be repaired by early October 2024,” the telecom authority had added. “Submarine cable AAE-1 has been rep­aired which may improve internet experience.”

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2024