A drop in PTCL traffic triggered significant interruptions in internet services across the nation. NetBlocks, an organisation that tracks internet outages, confirmed the development.
Internet fibre cables suffered damage due to heavy rains in Sukkur areas, sources in the company claimed this being the reason behind the internet outage in the country.
NetBlocks shared the details of the nature of internet disruption after the services were resumed in the country on Tuesday morning. “Internet service has been restored in Pakistan after another nation-scale disruption with connectivity levels falling to 38% of ordinary levels; the incident has had high impact to peers of backbone operator PTCL in a similar pattern to the previous instance.”
⚠️ Confirmed: #Pakistan is again in the midst of a nation-scale internet outage, the second in 24 hours; the incident affects multiple providers including PTCL with real-time network data showing connectivity at 38% of ordinary levels 📉
📰 Previously: https://t.co/mFBehYjlnY pic.twitter.com/ytORvYcP9o
— NetBlocks (@netblocks) August 23, 2022
Few days ago, the PTCL cable network had suffered a breakdown following rain.
As the PTCL network was down, the operations of several internet service providers who are linked with the company, also faced disruption in services.
Commercial enterprises that depend on high-speed internet connections for effective business operations are experiencing serious financial damages as a result of the frequent interruptions in internet services.
Read more: Internet Outage Across Pakistan
Earlier on Sunday, Youtube services in part of the country witnessed disruption at the time when Pakistan’s former prime minister Imran Khan was addressing a gathering in Rawalpindi.
According to NetBlocks report “Real-time network data show the disruption in effect on some but not all mobile and fixed-line internet providers in Pakistan during the live-streamed speech. Access was restored after the speech concluded. The study is taken from a sample size of 100 measurements from 14 vantage points across Pakistan.”
PTI leaders, digital media activists and internet users condemned the use of network disruptions and social media restrictions to limit political speech, given their disproportionate impact to fundamental rights including freedom of expression and freedom assembly.
Read more: Internet services to be disrupted on the morning of PTI Lahore Jalsa
Nighat Dad, a prominent digital rights activist commented on the situation in her tweet “when a state shuts down the internet, both people & economies suffer. The costs to jobs, education, health & political participation virtually always exceed any hoped for benefit. Internet shutdowns never helped any govt in Pakistan, nor in the past neither right now.”
When a state shuts down the internet, both people & economies suffer. The costs to jobs, education, health & political participation virtually always exceed any hoped for benefit. Internet shutdowns never helped any govt in Pakistan, nor in the past neither right now. #keepiton https://t.co/LWY6ngMeH8
— Nighat Dad (@nighatdad) August 22, 2022