By Frank Kamuntu
On May 12, 2024, it was reported that around 10:30 Hours EST, internet service in the East African hinterland experienced degradation, affecting over 80 million users. Internet services became slow or intermittent in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and South Sudan, as many Internet Service Providers reported difficulties.
So, if you’ve been flipping the switch on your router in an attempt to switch it on and off again to get it to bleed some Wi-Fi, take heart. It’s not your ISP. The Internet to East Africa, tweets Ben Roberts, Group CTIO Liquid Intelligent Technologies, “is severely impaired.”
He added, “All sub-sea capacity between East Africa and South Africa is down.” With the EASSy cable fault confirmed and the Seacom cable “observing fault that occurred at the same time.” To amplify the failure, three cable cuts that occurred in the Red Sea (Seacom, EIG, AAE1), he reports, “further remain unrepaired.”
This comes almost two months after the 14 March 2024 Internet outage, which severely affected Africa. At the time, Cloudflare stated, “This series of disruptions serves as a reminder of how dependent the Internet is on submarine cables, which are estimated to carry over 90 per cent of intercontinental data traffic. It turns out that only a small percentage of general use is done via satellite networks, and there are, in fact, 529 active submarine cables and 1,444 landings that are currently active or under construction, running to an estimated 1.3 million km around the globe.
Undersea cables, also known as submarine communications cables, play a crucial role in shaping the global internet. Let’s dive into how they impact our digital connectivity:
- Backbone of Global Communications:
- Undersea cables are fiber-optic cables laid on the ocean floor, connecting continents.
- They carry the bulk of international communications, including email, webpages, and video calls.
- Over 95% of all data transmitted globally flows through these cables.
- Speed and Capacity:
- These cables can transmit multiple terabits of data per second.
- A terabit per second is fast enough to stream about a dozen two-hour, 4K HD movies instantly.
- They handle millions of users simultaneously without slowing down.
- Installation Process:
- Ships equipped with giant spools of fiber-optic cable lay them on the ocean floor.
- The cables are bundled and encased in protective layers to withstand harsh conditions.
- Repeaters amplify the optical signal along the route to maintain data quality.
- Threats and Maintenance:
- Each year, around 100 to 150 cables are accidentally cut by fishing equipment or anchors.
- Regular maintenance ensures uninterrupted connectivity.
In summary, undersea cables tie the world together, enabling seamless global communication.
