SEACOM subsea cable outage portends disruptions on global connectivity

The News:

  • Over the weekend, leading telecoms provider SEACOM experienced an outage in its subsea cable system, affecting the segment running from Mombasa (Kenya) to Zafarana (Egypt).
  • The disruption has impacted businesses across East and Southern Africa. While SEACOM is diligently working to ensure service continuity, the challenging geopolitical sensitivity and ongoing tensions in the Red Sea area complicate repair operations.

Despite the disruption, SEACOM continues to maintain traffic on its cable between Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Africa. It rerouted other IP-based services automatically via alternative routes on Equiano, PEACE, and WACS cable systems, supported by diverse terrestrial infrastructure to minimize operational impact.

Samsung AD

Understanding the Significance of Submarine Cable Systems

Submarine cable systems are the unseen backbone of global communication, carrying over 99% of the world’s telecommunications traffic. SEACOM, a key player in this market, launched Africa’s first broadband submarine cable system in 2009, connecting the continent’s eastern and southern coasts with Asia and Europe.

Geopolitical Vulnerabilities Unveiled

The recent damage to SEACOM’s cable in the Red Sea draws attention to the geopolitical vulnerabilities of submarine cables, especially when passing through politically sensitive regions. The outage is under investigation, with suspicions pointing towards geopolitical tensions in the area, emphasizing the need for redundancy investments in regions with limited connectivity options.

Economic and Social Ramifications

The cable damage instantly affected internet accessibility in East Africa, impacting businesses, online education, and communication. Such outages can lead to significant economic losses, hindering GDP growth in developing countries. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of ongoing investments in redundancy to ensure uninterrupted global connectivity.

Telegram Ad
Total
0
Shares
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Previous Post

Equitel launches 5G network in Kenya

Next Post
BFREE Founders

Nigeria’s BFREE completes $2.95 million in funding led by Capria Ventures

Related Posts