A series of major submarine cable cuts in the Red Sea on Thursday sent shockwaves through the digital infrastructure of several African nations, resulting in widespread internet disruptions in Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, and parts of South Africa.
The affected submarine cable, originating from Europe and passing through the East Coast of Africa, suffered a deep cut in the Red Sea, impacting other vital cables like the West African Submarine Cable (WASC), African Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable, and MainOne submarine cable, which have landing ducts on Nigerian shores. Banks, schools, businesses, and organizations relying on internet services connected to these cables experienced serious disruptions, prompting concerns about the resilience of Africa's digital infrastructure.
The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) confirmed the cable cuts, citing equipment faults on major undersea cables along the West African Coast. While cable companies initiate repairs, internet access and speed have degraded in affected countries, necessitating customer patience. Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), reassured that Nigeria, with multiple submarine cables, faced minimal impact, with efforts underway to reroute customers to backups and existing cables. Investigations into the cause of the cuts are ongoing, with some operators ruling out sabotage, attributing the damage to natural disasters or maritime activities. Payment service banks like 9PSB and telecom giants like MTN have informed customers of the disruptions, pledging swift restoration as repair work progresses.
