MainOne, a key internet infrastructure provider in West Africa, forecasts a five-week duration for repairing the undersea cable cut that has disrupted internet services across Nigeria and several sub-Saharan African regions. The company issued a statement detailing the repair process and the extent of the outage’s impact on its services and regional connectivity.
The undersea cable, a vital conduit for international internet traffic into West Africa, experienced a fault offshore Cote D’Ivoire, resulting in widespread service interruptions. MainOne outlined the steps involved in the repair process, which include identifying the vessel needed for retrieving necessary spares, sailing to the fault location, conducting repair work, and inspecting joints post-repair.
MainOne refuted claims of human or armed group involvement in the cable damage, attributing such faults primarily to natural hazards or equipment failures. The company emphasized its commitment to restoring services to affected customers while adhering to safety protocols and regulations governing undersea cable repairs.
The Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) corroborated MainOne’s assessment, highlighting the impact on other undersea cables and the resultant downtime across West and South African countries. Major undersea cable systems, including West African Cable System (WACS) and African Coast to Europe (ACE), experienced faults, exacerbating the regional internet outage.
MainOne assured its customers of ongoing efforts to restore services and mitigate disruptions through restoration agreements with other operators. The company remains committed to upholding the integrity of submarine cables and promoting proactive measures to minimize future damage.
As investigations continue and repair efforts progress, MainOne urges stakeholders to prioritize collaboration and adherence to safety standards, ensuring the timely restoration of internet services vital for regional connectivity and economic activities.
