Multiple African internet connectivity providers have suffered outages following submarine cable cuts. The impact has been significant, affecting both Nigeria and South Africa. Here’s what we know:

The Undersea Cable Disruptions
1. Seacom’s Outage:
⁃ Seacom, a South African internet connectivity provider, reported a service-affecting outage via the West African Cable System (WACS), a vital submarine network.
⁃ This disruption has affected internet connectivity for many users across the region.

2. MainOne’s Fiber Cut:
⁃ MainOne, a major internet provider for most Nigerian banks and internet providers, also suffered a major fiber cut in Ghana.
⁃ The impact of this cut has knocked many major Nigerian banks offline.
⁃ Customers of these banks are currently unable to access their banking apps or use any USSD services.

Ripple Effects Beyond Banking

• Sterling Bank, a Nigerian bank, has issued a communication to customers, acknowledging that some online banking activities are “experiencing difficulties.”
• Lemfi, an African remittance startup, has also informed its customers of the downtime.
• A technical team is actively working on solutions, but the situation remains challenging.

South Africa’s Internet Woes
• The Thursday internet outage extends beyond Nigeria. South African internet users are also experiencing slow speeds and unresponsive internet.
• Vodacom, a major South African telecom provider, confirmed that multiple subsea cable failures between South Africa and Europe were impacting several network providers.
• Other submarine cables, including AAE1 and EIG, have also suffered outages across Africa.

Rerouting Traffic and Risks
• Traffic is currently being rerouted via alternate paths, with no current congestion.
• However, services to Europe from Maputo and South Africa are at risk should the alternate paths fail.

This developing story highlights the critical role of undersea cables in maintaining seamless internet connectivity. As technical teams work tirelessly to restore services, users remain hopeful for a swift resolution.

Stay tuned for updates as the situation unfolds.