MTN: Undersea cable damage disrupted internet across Africa

Telecommunication giant, MTN, on Thursday, confirmed that undersea cable damage disrupted internet usage across several African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, and others.

MTN made the confirmation on their social media handle, X, on Thursday, March 14, 2024, seen by DDM.

MTN posted on X: “Y’ello. We apologize for the challenges you may be having with internet speed and accessing data services at the moment.

“This is as a result of a damage to international undersea cables across East & West Africa.

“The repair process is ongoing to resolve the situation as soon as possible. Please look out for further updates.”

See the sign also posted by MTN below:

Who is affected by the damage on MTN?

Also, NetBlocks, @netblocks, which prides itself as “the internet’s observatory tracking cybersecurity and digital governance, connectivity and democracy, tools and policy for change”, confirmed the development.

NetBlocks noted, meanwhile, that the development started “in and around West and Central Africa” on Thursday.

Confirming the post by MTN, it said on X:

“Confirmed: Live network data show a major disruption to internet connectivity in and around West and Central Africa.

“The incident affects networks supplying telecoms via subsea cables to multiple countries and operators.”

According to data contained in the post by NetBlocks, Niger, Burkina Faso and Nigeria were mildly affected.

However, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia Benin and Ghana were seriously affected.

See table below:

In its subsequent update, NetBlocks alerted that the telecoms disruption involving MTN has intensified, saying:

“Live network data show today’s telecoms disruption in Africa has intensified.

“The incident has high impact to West Africa with significant reductions in connectivity evident across the continent.

“Operators report multiple subsea cable failures.”

Other countries affected by the damage

In a later data posted by NetBlocks, several African countries including Niger, Burkina Faso and Cote d’Ivoire.

Other severely affected countries are Liberia Benin, Ghana and Nigeria.

The only country seen on the safe zone was South Africa, which incidentally is the home of MTN.

See a second table below:

More details of the development on the disruption of internet provision by MTN and other providers will follow.

Stay tuned…

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