Subsea Cable Across Africa Cuts Again, Causing Major Network Disruption

East Africa has been struggling with another internet outage after a vital subsea cable cuts again on Sunday. 

Following similar incidents in West Africa in March, this latest crisis highlights the continent’s heavy reliance on poor electricity infrastructure.

The network is poor meaning that users have been experiencing slow internet speeds, intermittent outages and difficulties in connecting to online services due to widespread reports of poor connectivity due to the severed cables impacting countries such as Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique and South Africa.

Double Trouble: East Africa Feels the Pinch

This recent subsea cable cut again deals a double blow to East Africa. 

The region is still recovering from disruptions in February that affected cables in the Red Sea, once again underscoring the precarious state of internet connectivity across the continent.

While analyzing the causes of the current outage, experts point out possible causes such as the ship’s anchor accidentally dragging the cables or damage caused by undersea currents. 

Repairing these vital underwater arteries can be a lengthy and expensive process, leaving countries in a state of digital limbo for extended periods.

Telecom Scramble: Mitigating the Disruption

Network is poor and telecom operators in affected areas are struggling to reroute traffic through encrypted networks. 

However, the capacity of these methods is often limited, causing network gaps and further degradation of internet speeds.

Social media platforms are abuzz with users complaining that the network is poor. 

Businesses that rely heavily on online operations are also facing problems, which are affecting operations and customer service.

Read More: West African Countries Suffer Internet Disruptions Due to Undersea Cable Damage

A Continent Dependent: The Importance of Subsea Cables

Transporting more than 90% of intercontinental data traffic, subsea cables form the backbone of the global Internet. 

Africa, with its growing digital economy, is heavily reliant on these underwater networks.

Recent extensive subsea cable cuts highlight the need for infrastructure improvement and diversification of internet gateways. 

Experts recommend exploring new methods and technologies that can reduce reliance on a single point of failure.

Looking Forward: Building Resilience

The destruction of East Africa’s undersea cables is a stark reminder of the continent’s fragility when it comes to internet connectivity. 

Investing in infrastructure redundancy, exploring satellite-based solutions, and enhancing local cooperation on network maintenance are important steps towards building a more resilient internet ecosystem in Africa.

Government and telecom operators must prioritize infrastructure and find innovative solutions to secure the internet for businesses, citizens and the wider African digital landscape. 

The recent subsea cable cuts are a wake-up call, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen Africa’s digital backbone for a more connected and prosperous future.

Was this information useful? Drop a nice comment below. You can also check out other useful contents by following us on X/Twitter @siliconafritech, Instagram @ Siliconafricatech, or Facebook @ Silicon Africa.