On Thursday, a significant disruption to internet services occurred in Africa, with the cause of the cable failures remaining unclear. Seacom, the African subsea cable operator, confirmed that its west African cable system was down, impacting numerous customers. As a result, affected users were redirected to the Google Equiano cable, which Seacom utilizes, in an attempt to mitigate the impact.
“The redirection happens automatically when a route is impacted,” Seacom stated via email, indicating efforts to minimize disruptions for users affected by the cable failures.
While network disruptions caused by cable damage have been observed in Africa in recent years, the severity of Thursday’s disruption has raised concerns. Isik Mater, Director of Research at NetBlocks, a group specializing in documenting internet disruptions worldwide, described the incident as “amongst the most severe” disruptions experienced.
The precise cause of the cable failures remains unknown, prompting speculation and heightened attention to the issue. As businesses, educational institutions, and individuals across the continent rely increasingly on internet connectivity for various activities, any disruption to services can have significant implications.
Efforts are underway to identify and address the root cause of the cable failures, with stakeholders working to restore internet services to affected areas as swiftly as possible. However, the incident underscores the importance of investing in robust and resilient telecommunications infrastructure to ensure the uninterrupted flow of information and communication.
As Africa continues to develop and modernize, maintaining reliable internet connectivity is essential for driving economic growth, fostering innovation, and facilitating social development. Therefore, addressing challenges related to cable failures and internet disruptions remains a priority for governments, telecommunications companies, and other stakeholders across the continent.
