Undersea Cable Breaks Disrupt Internet Services in South Africa

In South Africa, widespread disruptions to internet services have been reported due to multiple undersea cable breaks, causing inconvenience for thousands of users across the country. The outage has affected various online services and rendered internet access intermittent for many.

Reports indicate that multiple undersea cable breaks occurred between South Africa and Europe, impacting several network providers, including Vodacom. While the exact location of the cable breaks is yet to be confirmed, sources suggest incidents along Africa’s west coast, potentially near Abidjan, Ivory Coast.

The affected undersea cables, such as the West Africa Cable System (WACS) and Google’s Equiano cable, play a critical role in connecting South Africa to Europe.

This outage marks the second such incident in seven months, exacerbating existing challenges in internet connectivity.

Azure Service Disruptions

Microsoft’s Azure services in South Africa, particularly in the North and West regions, have experienced disruptions due to the cable breaks.

Users have reported issues accessing the Azure portal and hosted services, indicating broader challenges within the Microsoft cloud infrastructure.

Response and Mitigation Efforts

Network providers and service providers are actively working to address the outage and minimize its impact on users.

Repairs to the affected undersea cables will be crucial in restoring normal internet functionality.

Additionally, efforts are underway to divert traffic to alternative routes, such as the Equiano system, to alleviate congestion.

The timing of the outage coincides with ongoing repairs to the Seacom cable, which was recently severed in the Red Sea, further complicating the situation. Geopolitical instability in the region may prolong repair efforts, underscoring the vulnerability of undersea cables to external factors.

The disruption in internet services highlights the interconnected nature of global connectivity and the reliance on undersea cables for critical infrastructure. As efforts continue to restore services, stakeholders must address challenges in cable maintenance and diversify connectivity options to ensure resilience against future disruptions.

By understanding the causes and impacts of undersea cable breaks, stakeholders can collaborate to strengthen internet infrastructure and mitigate the effects of such incidents on users and businesses in South Africa and beyond.