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Internet services across Somalia and parts of East Africa have been severely disrupted after an undersea fiber-optic cable, part of the Pakistan & East Africa Connecting Europe (PEACE) Cable network, suffered a break in the Red Sea. The outage, confirmed by Somalia’s National Communications Authority (NCA), has led to slower internet speeds, reduced streaming quality, and connectivity issues across the country.
The PEACE Cable is a crucial infrastructure link, connecting East Africa to Europe and Asia. With its breakage, businesses, government operations, and personal communications in Somalia have faced significant setbacks. Internet users have reported difficulty accessing online platforms, streaming services, and communication apps, highlighting the heavy reliance on undersea cables for stable internet access.
Somali telecommunications providers acted swiftly to mitigate the impact of the disruption by rerouting traffic through backup networks. According to the NCA, this effort has helped restore internet services to near-normal levels in many areas. However, the full repair process for the damaged cable could take until mid-April 2025, meaning intermittent connectivity issues may persist in the coming weeks.
The NCA reassured the public that it is working closely with internet service providers (ISPs) to monitor network performance and address any technical issues that may arise. Authorities emphasized that while backup networks have lessened the severity of the disruption, the event underscores the need for greater investment in Africa’s internet infrastructure to prevent future outages.
Undersea cable disruptions are not new to the region. Over the years, similar incidents in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean have caused significant connectivity issues for East African nations. Industry experts warn that such disruptions highlight the vulnerability of Africa’s internet infrastructure and the urgent need for more redundancy measures, such as additional submarine cables and alternative data routes.
The reliance on a limited number of undersea cables means that any damage to these systems can have widespread consequences. Experts suggest that telecom operators and governments should explore additional investments in satellite internet and terrestrial fiber-optic networks to create a more resilient internet infrastructure. With Somalia’s growing digital economy, stable and high-speed internet is crucial for businesses, banking, education, and communication.
The NCA has urged telecom operators to maintain open communication with regulators and swiftly implement contingency plans to prevent further service degradation. It has also called for regional collaboration to enhance internet security and ensure that similar incidents do not cause prolonged disruptions in the future.
While the PEACE Cable repair work is underway, users in Somalia are advised to expect occasional slowdowns and interruptions. Businesses dependent on stable internet connections may need to make adjustments, while individuals relying on online services should be prepared for intermittent disruptions.
The current outage serves as a stark reminder of how critical undersea cables are to global connectivity. As Africa continues its digital transformation, the need for more robust internet infrastructure cannot be overstated. Without significant investments in alternative connectivity solutions, similar disruptions will remain a recurring challenge for the region.
As Somalia navigates this latest internet disruption, telecom providers and regulators will be under pressure to ensure that future connectivity challenges are minimized. The coming weeks will determine how effectively the country can manage this crisis and what long-term solutions will be implemented to prevent similar issues in the future.