Internet users in East and South Africa have been experiencing significant connectivity issues in recent days. This double blow stems from two separate problems:

Undersea Cable Cuts

The primary culprit is damage to critical undersea fiber optic cables. These cables, like the East African Submarine Cable System (EASSy) and SEACOM, function as the region’s internet backbone, connecting it to the global network via South Africa.

Faults in these cables have resulted in slow speeds, intermittent connections, and even complete outages in countries like Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda.

This incident is reminiscent of the West and Central African outage in March, where damaged subsea cables caused similar disruptions.

Starlink’s Solar Setback

While some might see Starlink satellite internet as a potential alternative, it hasn’t been immune to problems either.

Recent solar storms have disrupted Starlink’s operations, raising concerns about its reliability during space weather events.

The Impact

This double whammy has far-reaching consequences:

Businesses: Disruptions can lead to lost revenue, hindered operations, and communication difficulties.

Education and Information Access: Educational institutions and individuals may struggle to access crucial online resources.

Overall Productivity: Collaboration and communication channels are hampered, impacting overall productivity.

The Road Ahead

Repair efforts for the undersea cables are underway, but restoration timelines remain uncertain.

The Starlink situation highlights the need for a more robust internet infrastructure, less susceptible to diverse disruptions.

This incident underscores the importance of investing in diverse and reliable internet connectivity solutions to ensure a more resilient digital future for East and South Africa.