Pakistan Faces Major Internet Outage : PTCL Backbone Failure and Flood Impact Disrupt Connectivity 2025 | News GUY

Pakistan faced one of its most severe connectivity crises on 19 August 2025, when a sudden and widespread internet outage disrupted services across the country. The disruption was so massive that national internet connectivity dropped to almost 20% of normal levels, according to independent monitoring agencies. This unprecedented breakdown left millions of users, businesses, educational institutions, and government organizations struggling without access to online platforms.

Scale of the Outage

The outage affected nearly all major internet service providers, with PTCL (Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited) at the center of the disruption. Since PTCL serves as the backbone of Pakistan’s internet infrastructure, the fault in its systems created a ripple effect, bringing down connectivity for other ISPs, including Nayatel, StormFiber, and various mobile data networks.

Social media users were quick to report connectivity failures across major cities such as Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, and Peshawar. Businesses dependent on cloud services, freelancers working with international clients, and students attending online classes all faced significant interruptions.

Causes Behind the Breakdown

Initial reports suggested that the outage stemmed from a technical fault in PTCL’s fiber-optic network. However, further assessments indicated that the issue may also have involved an upstream service provider outside Pakistan. This points to a broader infrastructure disruption rather than a purely domestic fault.

Adding to the complications, ongoing monsoon flooding across several regions of the country is believed to have damaged key network components. Heavy rainfall, landslides, and waterlogging in critical zones may have impacted underground fiber lines, worsening the disruption.

Response from PTCL and ISPs

PTCL officially acknowledged the disruption, citing a “technical issue” in its infrastructure. The company assured the public that its technical teams were working around the clock to restore services. Despite these assurances, users continued to experience slow or no connectivity well into the night of August 19.

Other ISPs such as Nayatel and mobile operators also issued brief statements, clarifying that the outage was largely due to issues in PTCL’s backbone network, which directly affected t

heir own services.