Africa’s internet is one cable cut away from chaos

Fixing a damaged submarine cable takes anywhere from five to fifteen days in Europe or North America. In Africa? Try six weeks—or longer. And when it does get fixed, it costs about $2 million per repair.

MainOne Equinix Solutions, Nigeria’s first private-led submarine cable operator, has suffered three major fiber cuts since its launch. Each repair dragged on for weeks, disrupting internet access in key cities like Lagos. Meanwhile, in March 2024, an underwater landslide off Côte d’Ivoire’s coast damaged four critical cables, leaving 13 West African countries—including Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa—scrambling for months before full restoration.

Africa doesn’t have enough repair ships nearby, meaning vessels must be sent from other continents, wasting precious time. Governments don’t make things easier either—permits for repairs can take months and cost up to $1 million.

While North America and Europe have dozens of backup cables, Africa is dangerously reliant on just a handful. The continent has only 74 submarine cable systems, compared to Europe’s 152 and the U.S.’s 88. Worse, 90% of African countries don’t even have a single dedicated cable, making every break a potential catastrophe.

Solutions exist: regional investment in repair ships, faster government approvals, and more private-sector funding. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the International Cable Protection Committee (ICPC) are pushing for better policies, but until governments and businesses act, Africa’s internet will remain one cable cut away from another blackout.