Ghana’s communications regulator has announced that repairs on damaged subsea cables, causing widespread internet outages across West and Central Africa, may take up to five weeks for completion and full service restoration. The disclosure, made on Saturday, has raised concerns over the extended disruption affecting various internet-dependent sectors.
According to Ghana’s National Communications Authority, discussions were held with the four subsea cable landing service providers – Africa Coast to Europe (ACE), MainOne (owned by Equinix), South Atlantic 3 (SAT-3), and the West Africa Cable System (WACS) – along with mobile network operators. The meeting aimed to strategize on addressing the issue promptly.
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The authority revealed that the service providers have identified the approximate location of the damage and are preparing to dispatch repair vessels. However, they have cautioned that the restoration process could extend for a minimum of five weeks from the time the vessels are dispatched to the affected areas.
MainOne, one of the service providers, disclosed on Friday that initial assessments suggested seismic activity on the seabed as the likely cause of the cable break. This revelation underscores the challenges involved in repairing the vital infrastructure essential for regional connectivity.
As stakeholders brace for an extended period of service disruption, efforts are underway to minimize the impact on businesses and consumers. However, the anticipated timeline for full service restoration underscores the complexity of the repair process and the significant implications for the region’s digital economy.
