00:00 Millions of people in Africa rely on the Internet to access information, communicate with friends
00:07 and family, perform financial transactions, and much more.
00:12 Since March 13, there has been a disruption to the Internet in parts of Africa due to
00:18 reported damages to multiple undersea telecommunication cables.
00:23 The lines affected include the West Africa Cable System, MEN1, South Atlantic 3, and
00:30 ACEC cables.
00:33 These are key continental arteries for telecommunication data.
00:38 Experts have ruled out any kind of human activity as the cause of the disruption.
00:44 The Internet blackout affected 13 countries, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ivory Coast,
00:53 Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, The Gambia, and Togo.
01:04 Internet service providers and watch groups have warned it could take weeks to fully restore
01:10 services.
01:11 It is estimated that the Internet disruption to date cost West Africa alone some $6.6 billion
01:19 in economic loss.
01:21 (dramatic music)
Comments