The damage to undersea cables in the Red Sea and West and Central Africa has caused significant disruptions in internet connectivity. These cables are vital for global internet traffic, and their failure has had a profound impact on telecommunications networks in these regions.
In the Red Sea, submarine cables have been cut, affecting communications between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. This has resulted in major disruptions to telecom networks, with four major companies reporting cable cuts. HGC Global Communications, a Hong Kong telecoms company, estimates that around 25% of traffic between these regions has been affected. Unfortunately, repairs are expected to take at least a month to commence due to the time required to secure permits to operate in the area.
In West and Central Africa, several subsea cables have experienced failures, leading to a widespread internet outage in the region. The exact cause of these failures is currently unknown. The impact has been severe, affecting countries such as Ivory Coast, Liberia, Benin, Ghana, and Burkina Faso. The disruption is significant, and rerouting traffic to mitigate the damage may reduce the available capacity for other countries.
It is crucial to monitor updates from relevant authorities and cable operators to stay informed about the progress of repairs and the expected timeline for restoring internet connectivity. The restoration of these undersea cables is essential for the resumption of normal internet services in the affected regions.
