The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), the telecoms industry regulator, has announced the successful restoration of voice and data services that were disrupted by last week’s undersea cable cut. The disruption, which occurred on March 14, 2024, affected 13 African countries, including Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Benin Republic, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Togo, Cameroon, Gabon, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Lesotho, and parts of South Africa.
According to a preliminary report released by NetBlocks, a global internet monitoring organization, Cote d’Ivoire experienced the most severe internet disruptions, with connectivity dropping to as low as four percent. However, countries like Nigeria, Lesotho, and South Africa were reported to have had a relatively low internet impact, with businesses experiencing only mild disruptions.
The disruptions were caused by cuts in undersea fibre optics cables along the coasts of Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal. The affected submarine cables included the West African Submarine Cable (WASC), African Coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable, and MainOne submarine cable, which have landing ducts at the shores of Nigeria.
The development had significant implications, disrupting internet services in Nigeria and hindering transactions for banks and non-financial organizations for several days.
However, the NCC confirmed that voice and data services have now been restored, bringing relief to affected users and businesses across the region. The successful restoration underscores the collaborative efforts of telecom operators and industry stakeholders in swiftly addressing such challenges and ensuring the resilience of communication infrastructure.
As the region continues to rely on undersea cables for international connectivity, the incident highlights the importance of robust and resilient telecommunications infrastructure and the need for proactive measures to mitigate future disruptions.
