Technology

Pervasive Internet Slowdown Strikes East Africa Following Submarine Cable Damage

East African nations, including Kenya, are currently grappling with agonizingly slow internet speeds due to damage sustained by at least one submarine cable responsible for providing connectivity to the region. The outage, which has considerably dampened the digital pulses across this swath of the continent, has highlighted the vulnerabilities in the undersea infrastructure that serves as the backbone of global internet.

A Deep-Sea Setback

As the region wades through a spell of sluggish online interactions, reports from Liquid Intelligent Technologies reveal the root of the issue lies underwater. "We've ascertained that a subsea cable has sustained damage approximately 45 kilometers north of Durban," explained Ben Roberts, Group Chief Technology and Innovation Officer. "This unfortunate event is the primary cause behind the slow internet affecting our users."

The impact extends beyond the immediate area, with East African countries feeling the pinch. The reason, Roberts elucidates, is that many large content providers that supply the region with data are, in fact, tethered to data centers nestled in South Africa. South Africa's geographical proximity to Kenya makes it a pivotal node, and hence, the disruption in South African waters reverberates all the way to East African shores.

In response, internet traffic is being hastily rerouted as engineers wage a race against the clock to mend the digital lifeline. This workaround, however necessary, comes with its own set of complications, invariably resulting in reduced speeds and inconsistent connections.

A Region in Digital Disarray

Confirming the extent of the implications, NetBlocks, an organization specializing in internet analysis, shed light on the situation. In a recent post, they disclosed, “Network data indicate a disruption to internet connectivity impacting multiple countries across East Africa.”

This isn't a scenario unique to East Africa. March of the same year bore witness to a similar predicament when four pivotal sub-sea cables off the west coast of Africa—namely the West Africa Cable System (WACS), MainOne, South Atlantic 3 (SAT-3), and the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) system —suffered impairments. The ramifications were immediate, causing widespread outages and connectivity issues that plagued not just individual internet users but also mobile operators and internet service providers across the continent. Detailed information tracking from organizations like NetBlocks, Kentik, and Cloudflare brought the magnitude of the disruption into focus.

Restoring Connectivity

The current outage casts a spotlight on the intricate web of submarine cables, often overlooked yet instrumental in contemporary communication. Spanning thousands of kilometers, these cables lie on the seabed, quietly carrying colossal amounts of data between continents. An unintended cut or damage to these cables can have repercussions felt across nations, as is evident from the present incident.

Efforts to reinstate normal service involve complex and potentially time-consuming repair processes. Specialized ships equipped with advanced gear must first locate the breach. Divers or remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) then take on the delicate task of repairing the damaged sections. Given the cables' submerged and sometimes treacherous locations, these operations demand precision and patience.

Internet service providers are working in tandem with infrastructure experts to ensure alternative routes are being employed to mitigate the effects as much as possible. Yet, restoring full speed and reliability might take a considerable amount of time, pending the completion of repair work—a process overwhelmingly dictated by the whims of the ocean and technical feasibility.

Global Dependence on Undersea Cables

This incident has reaffirmed the global reliance on undersea cables and has raised questions about the resilience of the current setup. As businesses and individuals become ever more dependent on cloud services, streaming, and other bandwidth-intensive activities, the demand on these undersea passages continues to balloon. The health of these cables, therefore, is not just a matter of convenience but of economic and social stability.

Holistic strategies may need to be developed to safeguard against similar outages in the future. Diversifying the network infrastructure, by increasing the number of cables or investing in satellite technologies, could be a way to spread the risk. Additionally, regular maintenance and surveillance of these cables, while a challenging endeavor, may prevent disconnections or allow for quicker responses when problems arise.

Regional Responses and International Assistance

The outage has prompted a swift reaction from affected nations, with governments and private entities alike recognizing the urgency of the situation. Internet service providers have activated contingency plans, rerouting data to ensure the continuity of essential services. Meanwhile, international partners and technology firms are lending their expertise and support to alleviate the digital disruption.

Liquid Intelligent Technologies has acknowledged the importance of addressing this outage promptly to minimize the impact on commerce, communication, and information dissemination. As shared by Ben Roberts, the organization is actively involved in the resolution process, showcasing a collaborative effort that spans multiple stakeholders.

Conclusion

The undersea cable damage off the south-eastern coast of Africa serves as a sobering reminder of the fragility of our interconnected world. It underscores the need for robust infrastructural systems that can withstand and quickly recover from such setbacks. In a world that is increasingly online, ensuring the reliability and security of internet connectivity is not just a technical issue; it is vital to the socio-economic fabric of global society.

It's essential for the general public and policymakers to acknowledge that such incidents can have profound ripple effects, from disrupting financial markets to affecting healthcare and education. Investing in and protecting our subsea communications infrastructure is more critical than ever—as our digital existence demands it.

The diligence of the teams tasked with restoring connectivity, combined with regional resilience and international support, offers a beacon of hope that the flow of data can and will return to normal. Moreover, the lessons learned from this incident will undoubtedly shape future strategies to enhance the reliability of the global internet architecture.

For more in-depth information on the matter, refer to the comprehensive analysis by NetBlocks: NetBlocks.

Acknowledgment

This article has been rendered complete with assistance from Bloomberg reported Eric Ombok. Our appreciation extends to all the parties involved in the collective effort to restore internet connectivity and provide insights into the challenges faced.

The realization that we are only as strong as our weakest link—be it a cable under the sea or a policy not yet formulated—could not be more apparent. With a proactive approach and international cooperation, we can aspire to create a truly resilient global internet infrastructure.

As the affected region eagerly awaits the return of stable and fast internet, the incident acts as a catalyst for change. It is a clarion call for intensified focus on the infrastructures that support our modern ways of living and working. While the hope is for a swift resolution to the current outage, the longer-term imperative is clear: we must fortify our digital foundations for a future that will undeniably demand even more from the silent sentinels of the deep—our submarine communication cables.

**Note: This article is based on information provided by Liquid Intelligent Technologies and other relevant data sources. Copyright ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.

This article was initially published on Bloomberg.