Impact of Undersea Cable Disruptions on Africa and the Middle East

Recent Disruptions in Submarine Cables

In recent weeks, several regions have faced significant internet connectivity issues due to disruptions in submarine cables. This situation has been particularly noticeable in Africa, where two major undersea cable faults have impacted numerous countries.

Details of the Cable Failures

The most recent incident involves the South Atlantic 3/West Africa (SAT-3) cable and the West Africa Cable System (WACS), which connect Africa to Europe. Reports indicate that the SAT-3 cable experienced problems near Libreville, Gabon, while WACS faced issues near the Congo and the UK.

This disruption has led to slower internet speeds, affecting 13 African nations, most notably South Africa, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). MTN Group issued an apology to customers in Nigeria and Ivory Coast, acknowledging the service challenges. As of January 20, local news outlets reported ongoing instability in data services in Cameroon and DRC, but these issues appear to be gradually resolving.

Ownership and Cause of the Faults

The WACS system is a collaborative venture primarily involving telecom companies from Africa, along with partners from Portugal, India, and Spain. SAT-3 is similarly co-owned by various companies from Europe, Africa, and China.

This disruption follows another incident involving cable cuts to the FLAG Alcatel-Lucent Optical Network (FALCON) off the coast of Yemen. A cut recorded on January 9 severely affected countries like Ethiopia, Sudan, and Tanzania, but Yemen was hit hardest, reportedly experiencing an 80% reduction in capacity, which has limited its options for alternative connectivity solutions.

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Management and Impact of the FALCON Cable

Global Cloud Xchange (GCX) manages the FALCON cable, maintaining the largest privately owned global subsea network. In an official statement, GCX mentioned two major cable breaks near Port Suez, possibly caused by an anchor dragging from a large merchant vessel.

As these submarine cable disruptions unfold, it raises concerns about internet infrastructure in affected regions. How prepared is your country for potential connectivity issues, and what steps can individuals or businesses take to mitigate disruptions?