In a recent tweet, industry expert Ben Roberts of Liquid Intelligent Technologies has reported that Internet users in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda have experienced poor connectivity due to faults in under-sea cables that link the region to the rest of the world through South Africa.

This issue is not only limited to East Africa but is also noted in Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar. The under-sea cables that connect Africa to the rest of the world are critical to the region’s growth and development.

With the increase in digital transformation, reliable connectivity is essential for businesses, individuals, and governments. The disruption caused by the cable faults has led to significant challenges, including lost productivity, data loss, and delayed communication.

It has also highlighted the need for more investment in alternative connectivity solutions in the region. The Eassy cable, which runs alongside the East African coast, has been cut near Durban, an event described as an unfortunate coincidence rather than sabotage.

This disruption comes in the wake of similar outages that affected West and Southern Africa in March, attributed to cable failures.

Service providers across the affected regions have acknowledged the disruptions and are working on rerouting data and repairing the cables to restore connectivity.

Impact on Businesses and Individuals

The poor connectivity has had a significant impact on businesses and individuals in the affected regions. For businesses, the disruption has led to lost revenue, decreased productivity, and increased costs.

For individuals, it has affected their ability to communicate with friends and family, access online services, and work from home.

The disruption has also revealed the digital divide that exists in the region, where those who cannot afford alternative connectivity solutions are left without access to the internet.

The Need for Alternative Connectivity Solutions

The disruption caused by the under-sea cable faults has highlighted the need for more investment in alternative connectivity solutions in the region.

The region is already exploring alternative solutions such as satellite connectivity, mesh networks, and other technologies that can provide reliable connectivity.

However, there is a need for more investment in these solutions to ensure that they are affordable and accessible to everyone in the region, regardless of their economic status.

Investing in alternative solutions would not only provide alternative connectivity options but also create job opportunities and promote innovation in the region.

Governments and private sector players should collaborate to ensure that these solutions are not only affordable but also reliable and accessible to everyone.

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The disruption caused by the under-sea cable faults has highlighted the need for more investment in alternative connectivity solutions in the region.

It has also emphasised the importance of reliable connectivity for the region’s growth and development. Service providers are working towards restoring connectivity, but more needs to be done to ensure that everyone in the region has access to affordable and reliable connectivity solutions.

As the region continues to explore alternative connectivity solutions, it is crucial that governments and private sector players collaborate to ensure that these solutions are affordable and accessible to everyone.

Investing in alternative solutions would not only provide alternative connectivity options but also create job opportunities and promote innovation in the region.