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Internet Outages? Why Did Parts of Africa Experience It Recently
(Mar 19 at 01:53pm)
Many African countries recently faced internet disruptions that lasted for several days. This caused significant inconvenience and economic impact, leaving many wondering what caused the issue. Let's delve into the reasons behind these outages.
The Culprit: Undersea Cable Damage
The primary culprit behind the internet disruptions in Africa was damage to undersea cables. These critical infrastructure components lie on the ocean floor, carrying a vast majority of internet traffic between continents. When these cables are damaged, the internet connectivity for entire regions can be significantly impacted.
The Impact of Damage
The recent outages highlight Africa's dependence on a limited number of undersea cables. While some redundancy exists, major disruptions in a single cable can have a cascading effect. This is especially true in West Africa, which was severely affected by the recent incident.
Possible Causes of Damage
The exact cause of the undersea cable damage remains under investigation. However, some potential explanations include:
Ship Anchors: Accidental snagging by ship anchors is a common cause of undersea cable damage.
Natural Disasters: Earthquakes, underwater volcanic eruptions, and even strong currents can damage these cables.
Malicious Intent: While less common, sabotage cannot be entirely ruled out.
The Road to Recovery
Thankfully, service providers are actively working on repairs and rerouting internet traffic through alternative paths. However, complete restoration can take time depending on the extent of the damage.
Looking Ahead: Building Resilience
These recent outages emphasize the need for increased investment in Africa's internet infrastructure. Here are some potential solutions:
Diversifying Undersea Cables: Relying on fewer cables makes the continent vulnerable. Investing in additional cables with different routes can improve redundancy.
Enhancing Infrastructure Security: Implementing stricter regulations and monitoring protocols can help minimize accidental or intentional damage to undersea cables.
Developing Local Infrastructure: Encouraging the development of local internet exchange points and data centers can reduce reliance on international connections, improving overall internet stability.
By prioritizing these solutions, African nations can build a more resilient internet infrastructure, ensuring a more stable and connected future.
On Another Note
Nigeria lost over ?273 billion ($593.6 million) due to Internet disruptions from Thursday to Sunday.
(NetBlocks is a global internet monitor working at the intersection of digital rights, cybersecurity and internet governance. Independent and non-partisan, NetBlocks strives for an open and inclusive digital future for all.)
NetBlocks used the Cost of Shutdown Tool (COST) to determine the economic impact of the Internet being down.
https://t.co/B4YHVhazsa?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Escreen-name%3ANetBlocks%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c14
While it was estimated that Nigeria alone lost over ?273.98 billion during those four days, Top10VPN chimed in, estimating that the Internet outages in West & Central Africa cost around $112.5 million up to midday on Friday.
As you are aware, several African countries have been affected by these disruptions, resulting in poor Internet connectivity. Even some banks in Nigeria took a hit, with customers unable to do their transactions smoothly. I am still unable to conduct transactions and am still penniless. ?
The Nigerian Communications Commission, to the rescue: On Saturday, March 16, 2024, the NCC stepped in and confirmed repairs to the undersea cables.
Ghana has its issues. It estimates that repairing its subsea cables could take up to five weeks. That's a long time to be without proper Internet!
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