Internet outage disrupts connectivity across Africa as undersea cables fail
Eswatini, along with several African countries, is grappling with slower internet speeds and connectivity issues following multiple undersea cable failures near Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire.
The West Africa Cable System (WACS), the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE), and other vital cables linking South Africa to the continent and Europe have been impacted, causing widespread downtime and disruptions.
Jabulile Dlamini, Chief Technology Officer at Eswatini Mobile, confirmed that the country’s networks are intricately linked to South Africa’s, exacerbating the impact of the undersea cable outages on both Mobile and Fixed Data services. Dlamini described the current situation as a ‘wait and see’ one, acknowledging the challenges faced by service providers in restoring full connectivity.
In a statement, the National Communications Authority (NCA) expressed regret over the disruptions, informing the public that Mobile and Fixed Data services have been significantly affected nationwide. The disruptions, originating from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, with additional impacts in Portugal, have led to a notable degradation in data services across the country.
While Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are working tirelessly to restore services using redundancies on alternative cables, the NCA emphasized the ongoing monitoring of the situation and pledged to keep the public informed of any developments.
Undersea cables, often unseen yet critical to global connectivity, serve as the lifeline for international internet traffic, enabling seamless communication between distant regions. These fibre-optic cables, capable of transmitting data at the speed of light, underpin over 95% of international communications, including internet, phone calls, and data transmissions.
Despite their essential role, undersea cables are vulnerable to various risks, from natural disasters to human activities, which can lead to widespread disruptions in internet connectivity. The recent cable failures serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of our interconnected digital infrastructure and the importance of robust contingency plans to mitigate such incidents.
Last year’s damage to the West African Cable System and the South Atlantic 3 following an undersea landslide near the Congo River mouth underscored the challenges in repairing and maintaining these critical infrastructure components.
The repair process took nearly a month, highlighting the complex nature of addressing undersea cable failures and restoring international connectivity. As efforts continue to rectify the current undersea cable disruptions, stakeholders in the telecommunications sector are working diligently to minimize the impact on users and restore seamless connectivity across affected regions.