A recent series of severe internet outages across multiple African countries has starkly highlighted the fragility of the continent’s internet infrastructure. This third significant disruption in just four months has urgently underscored the need to bolster the resilience of this essential service.
The latest incident, involving damage to two undersea cables early on a Sunday, disrupted data transmission across the continent. Previously, similar outages in March resulted from damage to cables off the West African coast, and in February, an anchor dragged through cables in the Red Sea, severing connections.
Authorities reported that the recent damage occurred near Durban, South Africa. This incident severely affected countries like Tanzania, where internet connectivity dropped to 30% of expected levels. Although alternative routes, such as The East Africa Marine System (Teams) cable, mitigated the impact in Kenya, other nations suffered significantly.
Anchors dragging from ships near the shore are a frequent cause of cable damage, but underwater rockfalls and seismic activities also pose significant risks. These incidents frequently increase as the region’s demand for internet access grows.
Repairing such damage involves complex, time-consuming processes requiring specialized equipment and expertise. Weather and sea conditions and the extent of the damage further complicate these efforts. For instance, it took over a month to repair four severed cables in West Africa earlier this year.
Efforts to address these vulnerabilities are ongoing. Prenesh Padayachee, Seacom’s chief digital and operations officer, stated they are working on temporary solutions to restore connectivity and accelerate the repair process by collaborating with various stakeholders. The repair ship Léon Thévenin is expected to reach the damaged site within three days.
Africa’s reliance on a limited number of undersea cables makes it particularly vulnerable to internet disruptions, unlike Europe and North America, which benefit from a dense network of wires that enhance connectivity resilience.
Addressing this critical issue may require substantial investment in local internet infrastructure, including more networks, data centres, and internet exchanges to diversify connectivity. Some propose enhancing digital resilience with alternative technologies like satellite internet links. However, high costs and limited availability pose significant challenges.
As Africa continues its digital integration, robust, reliable internet infrastructure is more critical than ever. It is essential for supporting various sectors of the economy and ensuring that the continent stays caught up in the digital age.
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