Slow internet connections to persist
Slow internet connections to persist
Slow internet connections to persist
According to a statement released by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA) on Monday, slow internet speeds throughout East Africa would continue in the upcoming days due to a deep-sea fiber cut that impacts cable services in Kenya.
A deep-sea fiber cut at the Mtunzini teleport station is the reason behind the sporadic traffic bottlenecks and data outages that have impacted several Kenyan submarine cables, such as Seacom and the East African Submarine System (Eassy), according to CA Director General David Mugonyi.
“We wish inform individual and corporate consumers that the recovery process has since commenced but Internet intermittency and slow speeds may remain in the coming few days before services are fully restored,” said the Authority.
To address the slow speeds, the Authority stated that it is closely monitoring the situation to ensure that incoming and outbound internet connectivity is available, while also directing service providers to secure alternative routes for their traffic.
“The East Africa Marine System (TEAMS) cable, which has not been affected by the cut, is currently being utilized for local traffic flow while redundancy on the South Africa route has been activated to minimize the impact,” the Authority stated.
Fibre-optic technology, known for its reliability and security, forms the backbone of Kenya’s digital infrastructure. This technology has facilitated widespread internet access, empowered remote work opportunities, and positioned Kenya as a frontrunner in the digital economy. Major ISPs like Safaricom, Airtel, and Jamii Telecommunications have played a significant role by laying extensive fibre-optic networks across Kenyan towns, connecting homes and businesses. Fortunately, not all connectivity pathways are affected. The East Africa Marine System (TEAMs) cable, majority-owned by the Kenyan government, remains operational.
Additionally, a redundant route via South Africa has been activated to lessen the burden on the damaged Seacom and Eassy cables. Safaricom, the leading telecommunications operator in Kenya, has implemented redundancy measures to minimize service interruptions for its customers during this network challenge. The CA is closely monitoring the situation while efforts to restore full internet connectivity across East Africa continue.
