Almost all international internet travels through fibre-optic cables lying on the sea floor, not satellites. Here are the cables that connect Pakistan, what happened when two of them were cut, and how to see it all yourself.
| # | Cable | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | 2Africa | In service | One of the longest cable systems, around Africa to Europe and Asia; Transworld Associates lands it in Karachi. |
| 02 | Africa-1 | Planned (2027 on the map) | New system linking Africa, the Middle East and Asia. |
| 03 | Asia Africa Europe-1 (AAE-1) | In service | Operated in Pakistan by PTCL. |
| 04 | IMEWE | In service | India–Middle East–Western Europe; operated in Pakistan by PTCL. Cut near Jeddah in Sept 2025. |
| 05 | PEACE Cable | In service | Operated in Pakistan by Cyber Internet Services. |
| 06 | SeaMeWe-4 | In service since 2005 | 20,000 km, France to Singapore via Karachi; PTCL is a co-owner. Cut near Jeddah in Sept 2025. |
| 07 | SeaMeWe-5 | In service | Operated in Pakistan by Transworld Associates. |
| 08 | SeaMeWe-6 | Landed in Pakistan Nov 2025 (whole system: 2027 on the map) | 19,200 km, 100+ Tbps total; Pakistan allocated 13.2 Tbps. |
| 09 | Transworld (TW1) | In service | Pakistan's first private cable, by Transworld Associates. |
Status as shown on the map on 13 Nov 2026; operator notes from Dawn and other Pakistani reports.
In early September 2025 two major cables, SeaMeWe-4 and IMEWE, were cut in the Red Sea near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Both carry traffic between Pakistan and Europe, so internet slowed across Pakistan and the region until traffic was rerouted and repairs went ahead. Repairing a deep-sea cable needs a special ship and can take days to weeks.
On 22 November 2025 SEA-ME-WE 6 reached Pakistan: 19,200 km, more than 100 Tbps in total, with 13.2 Tbps allocated to Pakistan. More cables on different routes mean one cut hurts less.