Severed Connections: Exploring the Consequences of Undersea Cable Damage in Africa

 

Africa stands at a digital crossroads, where its future hinges on the resilience and diversification of its undersea cable networks amidst global uncertainties.

In recent weeks, large parts of Africa have been grappling with a severe and unprecedented disruption in internet connectivity, signaling a critical and growing issue within the continent's digital framework. This situation has led to significant economic and social upheaval, profoundly affecting businesses, government services, and daily lives. Blank screens and sluggish digital services are becoming a new, distressing norm. This growing trend is more than a mere inconvenience; it's a stark indication of a deep-seated vulnerability in Africa's digital infrastructure, a crucial element in today's interconnected world.

The onset of this digital crisis was most notably felt on March 14th, marking a day of significant setbacks in connectivity. Ghana's stock exchange, a vital hub for economic activity in the region, had to postpone its closing time by an hour due to internet-related issues, a scenario emblematic of the broader implications of the crisis. This incident was not an isolated one. Elsewhere, in Nigeria, a prominent cement company found itself compelled to cancel a crucial earnings call due to similar connectivity issues, highlighting the widespread impact of the problem. The situation was even more dire in countries like Liberia and Benin, where data connectivity plummeted to less than 20% of normal levels, as reported by NetBlocks, a digital monitoring organization. In Ivory Coast, the scenario reached a critical point with internet connectivity dropping to a mere 3%. While some areas have since seen partial restoration of services, Wi-Fi reliability remains a significant concern across approximately a dozen African nations.

Investigations into the cause of these widespread internet outages have led to a startling revelation: the damage to four major undersea data cables that are pivotal to Africa’s internet connectivity, including the critical West African Cable System (WACS). This damage, occurring near the Ivory Coast and following a separate yet significant incident near Yemen, has brought to light the fragile nature of Africa’s connection to the global digital network. MainOne, the entity responsible for operating one of these crucial west African cables, has eliminated human activities like fishing as potential causes, pointing instead to seismic activities on the ocean floor as the probable culprit. As per the Ghana National Communications Authority, the estimated time for repairs is at least five weeks, a duration that underscores the severity and far-reaching consequences of the disruption. This ongoing situation not only reflects the immediate challenges but also raises crucial questions about the long-term resilience and reliability of Africa's digital infrastructure.

The reliance of global internet traffic on submarine cables is well-known, with these cables carrying 99% of intercontinental data. However, Africa's reliance on them is particularly acute due to a lack of network redundancy. In contrast to other regions like North America or Europe, where multiple cable routes offer alternatives in case of damage, Africa has far fewer options. Paul Brodsky from TeleGeography points out that just five submarine cables run up Africa’s west coast between South Africa and Nigeria, with three of these knocked offline in the recent incident.

This vulnerability is compounded by other factors. Africa's dearth of data centers means that local websites often rely on distant servers, increasing the reliance on undersea cables. Furthermore, the scarcity of intercontinental cables across the continent forces more data to travel via these vulnerable oceanic routes. Adding to this vulnerability are natural hazards. For instance, the Congo canyon, one of the world's largest submarine trenches, has seen underwater avalanches breaking cables on multiple occasions. Peter Talling, a geologist at Durham University, links these incidents to major floods in Congo.

The recent damage to undersea cables near Ivory Coast has also shed light on the continuous and unpredictable risks lurking in the depths of Africa's surrounding seas. Experts suspect that this damage might be linked to an underwater landslide in the Trou sans Fond submarine canyon, a geologically active area known for its precariousness. This incident is not just a technical failure but a stark reminder of the natural hazards that can unexpectedly cripple vital digital lifelines. The vulnerability of these cables, lying unseen on the ocean floor, becomes alarmingly evident in such situations. Moreover, these events bring to the forefront the broader issue of how natural phenomena, occurring deep beneath the sea, can have far-reaching and instantaneous impacts on the digital connectivity of an entire continent.

In addition to natural risks, geopolitical events also significantly affect the integrity of Africa's digital infrastructure. A notable example of this was the recent incident in the Red Sea, where the Houthis, a rebel group in Yemen, targeted a cargo ship. This attack inadvertently led to the damage of three critical submarine cables, including the Seacom cable, which is integral to East Africa's connection to the rest of the world. This event serves as a stark illustration of how political and military actions in one part of the world can have immediate and unintended consequences on the digital connectivity of distant regions. The disruption caused by such incidents is a testament to the interconnectedness of global internet infrastructure and highlights the fragility of Africa's place within this network, reliant on a few critical conduits of data.

The culmination of these events paints a concerning picture of the fragility of Africa's digital infrastructure. The continent's dependency on a limited set of submarine cables, susceptible to both natural disasters and geopolitical strife, presents a significant and ongoing challenge. To secure Africa's digital future, there is an urgent need for diversification in internet infrastructure, increased investment in local data centers, and a concerted effort to enhance the resilience of existing cable networks. Such steps are essential not only for mitigating the immediate risks but also for ensuring the continent's robust and sustainable participation in the global digital era. It calls for collaborative efforts that span across national, regional, and international domains, requiring a unified approach to safeguard and strengthen Africa's digital presence against similar disruptions in the future.