In September 2025, millions of internet users in India and Pakistan faced major disruptions after multiple undersea cables were reportedly damaged in the Arabian Sea region. Popular apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and even online payment systems experienced delays, slow speeds, and frequent disconnections.
This sudden breakdown highlights just how dependent South Asia is on fragile submarine internet cables, which carry almost all global data traffic.
What Happened?
According to initial reports, two to three submarine internet cables connecting South Asia to the Middle East and Europe were damaged. These fiber-optic cables carry massive amounts of internet bandwidth, and any disturbance creates ripple effects across the region.
Telecom operators in both India and Pakistan confirmed that they are rerouting internet traffic through backup routes, but users will still face buffering, delays, and unstable browsing until the damaged cables are repaired.
Impact on India and Pakistan
India
- Major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad have reported unstable internet connectivity.
- Businesses relying on cloud platforms, stock trading apps, and remote work tools are heavily affected.
- Entertainment and gaming platforms have slowed down due to high latency.
Pakistan
- Users in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad are experiencing long delays in video calls, online classes, and e-payments.
- Pakistan’s limited backup infrastructure makes recovery slower compared to India.
- Digital payment gateways and e-commerce platforms are among the worst-hit services.
Why Are Undersea Cables So Important?
While many assume that satellites power the global internet, the truth is different. Nearly 95% of all international data travels through undersea optical fiber cables.
These cables, though vital, are also vulnerable:
- ⚓ Fishing activity and ship anchors can cut them accidentally.
- 🌊 Earthquakes and storms sometimes damage cables.
- ⚡ Technical faults occur due to wear and tear.
- 🕵️ In rare cases, even sabotage is suspected.
This is why any cable cut can cause massive regional internet slowdowns.
How Long Will Repairs Take?
Fixing undersea cables is a complex process that usually takes several days to weeks. Specialized repair ships are dispatched to:
- Locate the fault on the seabed.
- Pull up the damaged section of the cable.
- Splice and repair it before placing it back.
Until then, users in India and Pakistan will continue facing:
- Slow internet speeds.
- Buffering on YouTube, Netflix, and gaming platforms.
- Latency in video calls and online meetings.
- Trouble accessing international websites.
- Payment delays in digital transactions.
Government & Telecom Response
Both Indian and Pakistani telecom authorities have assured users that efforts are underway with global partners to repair the cables.
Temporary measures include:
- Rerouting internet via alternative submarine cables.
- Using satellite internet as a backup (though capacity is limited).
- Optimizing local internet exchange points to reduce congestion.
Long-term strategies under consideration:
- Building more diverse cable routes.
- Investing in satellite-based internet providers like Starlink and OneWeb.
- Establishing regional data centers to reduce dependency on foreign networks.
What Users Can Do Right Now
If you are facing slow internet during this outage, here are some quick fixes:
✅ Avoid heavy downloads or 4K streaming during peak hours.
✅ Use offline modes on apps like YouTube, Spotify, and Google Docs.
✅ Switch between mobile data and Wi-Fi to find the faster option.
✅ Change your DNS to Google (8.8.8.8) or Cloudflare (1.1.1.1) for slightly better performance.
✅ Be patient with UPI, PayPal, or online banking transactions, as delays are expected.
FAQs: Pakistan & India Internet Outage 2025
Q1. Why is the internet slow in India and Pakistan today (September 2025)?
Because multiple undersea cables in the Arabian Sea were damaged, cutting off high-bandwidth global connections.
Q2. How long will the internet outage last?
Repairs can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks, depending on how quickly repair ships reach the fault site.
Q3. Which apps and services are affected?
WhatsApp, YouTube, Instagram, Zoom, online gaming, and international websites are experiencing delays and disruptions.
Q4. Can satellite internet like Starlink solve the problem?
Satellite internet helps as a temporary backup, but it cannot match the full bandwidth capacity of submarine cables.
The internet outage in India and Pakistan (September 2025) is a wake-up call about the fragility of global digital infrastructure. With daily life and business so dependent on online connectivity, South Asia urgently needs stronger, multi-route internet systems to avoid future breakdowns.
Until repairs are completed, users will have to adapt to slower speeds, limited access, and patience in digital transactions.