Undersea cable damage triggers internet outages across Africa

Major internet access disruptions have hit several African nations due to damage to submarine communications cables. Telecommunications subscribers and bank users have been significantly affected as the disruption paralyzed digital transactions and internet communications. The disruption could take weeks or even months to fix, Bloomberg reports.

MTN Group, a prominent South African operator, disclosed that breaks in multiple major undersea cables have impacted connectivity services across various West African countries. The company is actively seeking to reroute internet traffic through alternative network paths and collaborating with partners to repair the damaged cables.

Ivory Coast appears to be experiencing the most significant impact from the cuts, followed by Liberia, Benin, Ghana, and Burkina Faso. Cameroon, Gabon, Namibia, and Niger are also facing disruptions, albeit to a lesser extent. In South Africa, Vodacom attributed connectivity issues to multiple undersea cable failures but did not provide specific details.