Major underwater cable damage disrupts internet services in Nigeria and across Africa

Major underwater cable damage disrupts internet services in Nigeria and across Africa. A recent underwater cable rupture near Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, has resulted in extensive internet service disruptions in Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, and other African countries.

Major undersea cables such as the West Africa Cable System, MainOne, and ACE have been impacted, resulting in downtime for telecommunications networks and services including Microsoft Azure and Office 365.

MTN and Vodacom have published statements apologising for the disruption and outlining the ongoing repair procedure. The incident builds on past interruptions in the region, emphasising the fragility of important telecommunications routes such as the Red Sea.