Internet services 'fully restored' nationwide: PTA

 

This image shows many social media apps on a phone screen. — X/@AFP/File

Following hours-long disruption, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Saturday night announced that a "technical fault" in its optic fibre network had been rectified and the internet services fully restored nationwide.

On its official account on X — formerly known as Twitter, the PTA said: "The recent disruption in internet services was caused by a technical fault, which has been promptly rectified. #Internet services have been fully restored nationwide."

Earlier in the day, internet and social media services in most parts of Pakistan were severely disrupted as users complained about difficulties in accessing social media platforms.

Netizens complained about their inability to connect to social media sites including X — formerly known as Twitter — Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and streaming giant YouTube.

— Down detector

As per downdetector.pk, Google services as well as internet service provider PTCL also faced disruption around 7pm today.

A sharp rise in connection outages on YouTube, X and Facebook was seen in downdetector's graphs.

— Down detector

Users in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Attock, and Sialkot reported complaints about difficulties in accessing social media sites.

Metrics show a nation-scale disruption to social media platforms across Pakistan, including X, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, posted NetBlocks, the internet's observatory, on its official X handle.

With the electioneering picking up momentum for the February 8 general elections, users have experienced internet outages multiple times during the recent weeks, according to media reports.

Last week, the internet services and popular social media apps were hit by outages as users almost across the country reported connection errors and disruptions.

As per downdetector.pk, Google services as well as internet service provider PTCL also faced disruption around 5pm on Sunday (January 7).

Similarly, on December 17, 2023, the internet services faced serious disruptions almost across the country.

Users from different parts of the country reported an outage of YouTube, Facebook and X. Karachi, Lahore, Mir Pur Khas, and Rawalpindi were the most affected cities in the country.