KARACHI, Oct 23: Due to the 10-Gb upgradation in the SEA-WE-3 Submarine Optic Fiber Cable System on segment 5 Karachi-Dhibouti-Mumbai, a planned outage has been scheduled from 2:30am on Oct 26.

It is due to this outage, which the PTCL said was beyond its control, all the International Voice and Data connectivity from Karachi, Pakistan via SE-ME-WE-3 Submarine Cable System will remain suspended for 24 hours.

A PTCL spokesman said its engineers were continuously in touch with the SEA-WE-3 administration to minimize the planned outage period. During this period, although International Voice communication will remain operational from transit routes via satellite and a direct analogue submarine cable link with Etisalat (UAE), yet customers may experience some delays and congestion on the International Direct Dialling and operator assisted calls.

The spokesman said the PTCL’s main International IP connectivity (STM-1) via SEA-ME-3 on the Pakistan Internet Exchange would be disrupted during the said period. However, due to availability of 34Mbps Satellite connectivity, partial Internet service will remain operational.

The PTCL has highly regretted this inconvenience to its valued customers.—APP