Internet users in Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Uganda have voiced grievances over poor connectivity as service providers across East Africa acknowledge widespread issues. The problem stems from faults in undersea cables connecting the region to the global network via South Africa, according to industry expert Ben Roberts.
Similar disruptions were experienced in parts of West and Southern Africa in March. Despite efforts to rectify the situation, some East Africans continue to face slow internet speeds, with telecom providers indicating ongoing efforts to resolve the issue.
Airtel Kenya and Vodacom Tanzania are among the providers actively addressing customer concerns, acknowledging the persistence of the problem and urging patience as they work with undersea cable teams to restore full connectivity.
Cloudflare Radar reports significant internet traffic reductions in Tanzania, where major network channels have been affected by what is described as an “internet blackout” by Tanzania’s Citizen newspaper.
On social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), frustrated customers have sought answers from service providers. Airtel Kenya, for instance, responded to inquiries about streaming the Manchester United versus Arsenal English Premier League match, apologizing for network issues and affirming efforts to resolve them.
Safaricom in Kenya also acknowledged experiencing challenges, while Airtel Uganda and MTN Rwanda cited intermittent internet service and degradation of international links, respectively.
Cloudflare Radar indicates that Malawi, Mozambique, and Madagascar have also experienced connectivity issues. Roberts from Liquid Intelligent Technologies confirmed cable cuts near Durban, South Africa, ruling out sabotage and attributing the incidents to unfortunate coincidences.
While alternative cables linking East Africa to Europe exist, the impact of the Eassy cable cut, which runs along the East African coast, is significant due to the presence of data centers in South Africa. Data rerouting is underway, but full restoration may take time.
The widespread outages in March, affecting countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, and others, were similarly attributed to cable failures, causing frustration among millions of customers across the continent.
