2 weeks Ago By The Frontier Post
(Web Desk): WhatsApp and Instagram users in Pakistan faced disruptions on Saturday, according to the outage tracking website Downdetector. Instagram users reported a total of 86 outages in one hour today, while WhatsApp users have been reporting problems since 10:45am, according to Downdetector. Network providers Zong and PTCL have also experienced disruptions since this morning.
The development comes as Pakistan has been facing huge disruptions in internet services, with X (previously Twitter) being barred in the country for months. Digital rights experts have indicated that the government is testing a firewall, which is a security device that monitors network traffic but can also be used to manage online areas. The administration denies setting such a firewall.
On August 28, the PTA stated that the ongoing internet slowdown across Pakistan was expected to prolong with repairs to the damaged SMW-4 submarine cable likely to be completed by early October 2024. “The ongoing internet slowdown across the country is mainly due to fault in two (SMW4, AAE-1) of the seven international submarine cables connecting Pakistan internationally,” the PTA said in a statement. “It is updated that fault in SMW-4 submarine cable is likely to be repaired by early October 2024.
” The authority further stated that the submarine cable AAE-1 has been repaired, “which may improve internet experience”..
