How Vodacom, MTN and Openserve are Minimising the Impact of Undersea Cable Snaps
Key Highlights :
The internet is a complex network of fibre-optic cables that run along the sea floor, enabling the high-speed transfer of information across the globe. On 6 August 2020, a rockfall in the Congo Canyon caused two critical subsea cables to snap, disrupting the operations of network operators such as Vodacom, MTN, and Openserve. This article will explore how these companies are taking steps to minimise the impact of the undersea cable snaps on their operations.
The two subsea cables that snapped on 6 August were the West Africa Cable System (WACS) and the South Atlantic Telecommunications Cable number three (SAT-3). Both MTN and Vodacom confirmed to News24 that they were part of the consortium management structures for the WACS cable, and that their operations had been affected by the break.
In order to mitigate the impact of the WACS snap on their networks, the network operators said that they were rerouting traffic from WACS to other unaffected traffic routes. Vodacom has implemented additional capacity on unaffected cable routes, while MTN customers are protected by rerouting traffic via their east coast undersea cables. Openserve has also stated that they have invested in another international cable capacity, and that all Openserve IP transit services traffic has been automatically rerouted.
Repairs to the cable are expected to be completed by 8 September, depending on weather conditions. The ship which will be used to repair the cables is currently performing maintenance on a cable near Kenya.
In conclusion, Vodacom, MTN, and Openserve have taken steps to minimise the impact of the undersea cable snaps on their operations. By rerouting traffic from WACS to other unaffected traffic routes, and investing in additional capacity on unaffected cables, the companies have been able to ensure that their customers continue to receive a reliable network service. The repairs to the cables are expected to be completed by 8 September, at which point the network operators should be able to restore full services.
