Explainer: Undersea cable damage leads to internet blackouts in Africa
Internet access in parts of Africa has faced disruption since March 13 due to damages to multiple undersea telecommunication cables. Internet service providers say it may take weeks for the cables to be fixed to restore data services fully to users.
Transcript
00:00 Millions of people in Africa rely on the Internet to access information, communicate with friends
00:07 and family, perform financial transactions, and much more.
00:12 Since March 13, there has been a disruption to the Internet in parts of Africa due to
00:18 reported damages to multiple undersea telecommunication cables.
00:23 The lines affected include the West Africa Cable System, MEN1, South Atlantic 3, and
00:30 ACEC cables.
00:33 These are key continental arteries for telecommunication data.
00:38 Experts have ruled out any kind of human activity as the cause of the disruption.
00:44 The Internet blackout affected 13 countries, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast,
00:53 Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, The Gambia, and Togo.
01:04 Internet service providers and watch groups have warned it could take weeks to fully restore
01:10 services.
01:11 It is estimated that the Internet disruption to date cost West Africa alone some $6.6 billion
01:19 in economic loss.
01:21 (dramatic music)