Latest news with #Seacom
The South African
3 days ago
- The South African
Here's why your INTERNET may be slow this week
Parts of South Africa are grappling with slower internet speeds this week as a major international undersea data cable – the West Africa Cable System (WACS) – undergoes emergency repairs off the coast of Namibia. The 14 500km fibre-optic link, which connects South Africa to Europe via Portugal, went offline on Sunday, 1 June, after a critical fault was detected in a branching unit near Swakopmund. The damaged component – a branching unit which reroutes data signals – has been retrieved by a deep-sea cable repair ship. Engineers are now working to install a replacement and conduct tests to restore connectivity between Yzerfontein and Lisbon, a crucial handover hub for European internet traffic. 'We've verified the rest of the cable is intact. The next step is to install the new unit and perform a full signal test,' said Robert Kraai, co-chair of the WACS operations committee. Western Cape users are feeling the brunt of the outage, with reports of sluggish browsing and interrupted video streaming. users are of the outage, with reports of sluggish browsing and interrupted video streaming. Gauteng and northern regions, however, are largely unaffected due to their reliance on East Coast alternatives like Seacom and EASSy. 'Many networks in the Western Cape lean heavily on WACS,' said local ISP Cool Ideas. 'That makes this kind of outage particularly disruptive in the region.' Repairs are expected to continue until at least 16 June, but experts stress that sea conditions could impact the timeline. 'If the ocean cooperates, we should see service restored by the third week of June,' telecom analyst Roderick Beck noted. 'But it's the sea – anything can happen.' WACS is vital not just for basic internet access, but for high-speed data services, global content delivery, and cloud connectivity in South Africa. It also connects to the South Atlantic Cable System (SACS) via Angola, making it a linchpin for regional and intercontinental traffic. The incident underscores how fragile global connectivity can be – relying on a small number of deep-sea cables, often vulnerable to faults, weather events, or physical damage. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
4 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
How are undersea cables repaired? A look inside the WACS operation
Major internet issues have South Africans across the country following reports of undersea cable failures. Image: Unsplash Don't send angry emails to your ISPs just yet, because if your internet connection has been feeling a little slow, it might be because the West Africa Cable System (WACS) has been offline since June 1. WACS is a key internet artery linking South Africa to Europe and is reportedly offline due to emergency maintenance expected to last over two weeks. The issue is a faulty branching unit near Swakopmund, Namibia, which supplies power to sections of the cable, resulting in slower speeds and connectivity issues, particularly in parts of the Western Cape, as providers reroute traffic through alternative routes like Seacom and EASSy on the East Coast. Emergency maintenance began at 2am on June 1 and is scheduled to end by 8am on June 16, weather permitting. During this time, the affected stretch of WACS is offline, meaning no data traffic can flow through it. After replacement, engineers must run post-repair signal tests from South Africa to Lisbon and onward to London before declaring the system operational. It's worth noting that the cable didn't break, but it's still useful to know how these fixes are done How are undersea cables repaired? Do you know how, when you have a problem with your laptop, you call IT and they tell you to switch your device off and on again? While this may work for computers and laptops, the same thing cannot be said for undersea cables. Submarine cable repairs are high-stakes, logistically intense operations, as these cables can stretch thousands of kilometres across oceans, which makes repair work highly specialised, time-consuming, and dependent on good weather. This is how it goes down, according to One Step Power. 1. When a cable goes down, engineers first use signal tests to identify the break. A pulse of light is sent through the fibre. Under normal circumstances, the light travels uninterrupted, but when there's a break, the light reflects. From this, engineers can pinpoint the problem area. For power cables, they sometimes use remotely operated vehicles (ROVs) with fault detection tools. 2. Once the damage is located, a specialised cable repair ship is sent to the area. These ships are fitted with dynamic positioning systems that keep them steady in rough seas. They're also stocked with replacement cable that is usually around 5–10 km. Newer vessels can carry up to 9,000 km. 3. In shallow water, ROVs with cameras and robotic arms can grab the cable and bring it up. However, in deep water where pressure is too high for ROVs, a deep-sea fishing hook called a grapnel is used to cut and haul the cable ends to the surface. These ends are either brought onboard or floated with buoys until the ship can complete the fix. Once on board, the cable is moved into a repair room, where engineers clean, splice, and test it. The process can take up to 16 hours. The repaired section is then lowered back down, often in a hairpin or omega loop to accommodate the extra cable length needed for the operation. In this case, Openserve confirmed that a repair ship successfully located and recovered the faulty branching unit. Engineers onboard confirmed that the cable itself is intact. How WACS works and why it matters WACS is a 14,530-km-long submarine fibre optic cable that runs from Portugal to South Africa. It has landing points in 11 countries, including Namibia, Angola, and Ghana. It has a design capacity of 14.5 Tbps and includes dedicated express lanes, which are direct high-speed links between South Africa and Europe, making it a vital resource for ISPs and content delivery networks (CDNs). When WACS is compromised: Traffic must be rerouted, often through longer or more congested paths. Latency increases, especially for international content. Regional imbalances emerge — Cape Town ISPs are more affected than Gauteng-based ones, due to routing differences. Once the faulty branching unit is replaced, it will be sent to the supplier for analysis to determine what went wrong. While the cause remains unclear, operators hope no further complications arise during testing. If all goes well, normal traffic should resume by Sunday. IOL
Zawya
08-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Data centre neutrality – hyperscalers and Seacom as the carrier of carriers
Network architecture requirements have shifted drastically over the last few years. As our reliance on always-on, always available connections has accelerated, so too has the need for data centre neutral carrier networks that make it possible to create global reach, ensure resilience and redundancy while ensuring seamless interconnectivity. Content providers, hyperscalers and over-the-top players are expanding at an unprecedented rate, pushing infrastructure limits to bring workloads closer to end users as they look to deliver vast amount of data traffic without compromising the user experience. However, scaling is not as simple as flipping a switch. Data centres are finite, and traditional models pose constraints. This is where data centre neutrality becomes critical, not just as a concept but as an operational reality enabled by carriers such as Seacom. Author: Giovanni da Costa, managing director at Seacom Digital Infrastructure, South Africa A carrier-driven, data centre-neutral approach to digital infrastructure is a game-changer for Africa's digital future. Seacom provides the essential connectivity backbone, allowing hyperscalers, OTTs (over-the-top services), and global network carriers to scale across multiple facilities without constraint. Our focus is on powering the infrastructure that enables digital services to reach the end-user (consumers) seamlessly. Africa's evolving infrastructure value chain Africa's digital ecosystem relies on high-capacity interconnectivity across multiple facilities. Hyperscalers and content providers must move workloads across regions without re-architecting networks or facing latency issues. Seacom is pivotal as the carrier that connects other carriers – an invisible yet critical link in the digital economy. Whether it's a regional carrier in Botswana trying to access Microsoft's cloud infrastructure in South Africa or a new OTT entering a market like Uganda, Seacom is the gateway. Historically, data centre operators emphasised carrier neutrality, allowing businesses to choose from multiple network providers. However, today, true flexibility requires data centre neutrality – a model where no single data centre becomes a constraint, and carriers like Seacom provide seamless interconnection between disparate facilities across the continent. Key trends shaping this shift include: - Multi-data centre strategies to enable flexible workload movement - The emergence of new digital hubs in cities like Maputo, as well as regions such as Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda - Infrastructure strategies focused on speed to market and hyperscaler - A shift in the infrastructure value chain to a focus on resilience, redundancy and robustness. While challenges remain, such as reluctance from incumbents, infrastructure costs, and energy reliability, the direction is clear. Data centre neutrality is the future. Seacom's distinct approach Unlike legacy infrastructure models, Seacom's approach is anchored in speed, scale, and strategic market access. Our clients are asking: "How can we reach the market faster?" The opportunity cost of delay is too high – hyperscalers and content providers must move now, and we enable them to do so. When capacity is constrained at one data centre, clients need the flexibility to shift workloads seamlessly to another. For example, if space is limited at DC1, clients can immediately pivot to DC2 – because Seacom connects both data centres, regardless of who owns them. While some networks are locked into specific facilities or regional monopolies, Seacom's neutral infrastructure enables effortless movement between data centres. If there is no capacity at one facility, workloads can instantly switch to another because Seacom connects them all. Seacom, as the carrier of carriers, provides the infrastructure that global carriers need to expand seamlessly across Africa. By leveraging major subsea cable systems like Equiano, WACS, and its own Seacom cable, Seacom ensures high-capacity connectivity between data centres and end users. Multiple entry points into data centres eliminate single points of failure, enhancing network resilience. By removing the need for exclusivity agreements and unlocking cross-border capacity with pre-deployed connectivity, Seacom allows hyperscalers and content providers to reach new markets quickly – delivering digital services directly to consumers and businesses alike with minimal friction. Deployment into emerging markets like Mozambique, Tanzania, and Malawi, often overlooked due to infrastructure constraints, becomes more effortless, allowing global providers to land, expand, and scale within weeks, not months. A 'carrier of carriers' for a better consumer experience Ultimately, the biggest winners are the end users. Seacom helps reduce latency, improve reliability, and enhance the digital experience by bringing hyperscaler and content provider networks closer to end-users via multiple neutral data centres. Whether streaming Netflix, using Microsoft 365, or accessing Salesforce, users experience faster load times, fewer service interruptions, and smoother interactions. This model is not just about delivering data. It's about providing real-time value at the edge, closer to the user. Seacom's role as the carrier of carriers is to connect the dots across Africa, making it easier for hyperscalers, OTTs and global carriers to scale, reach users, and create inclusive digital ecosystems. By leveraging high-capacity fibre networks and strategic interconnections, Seacom is driving Africa's next wave of digital transformation. In this ecosystem: - Carriers enable interconnection. - Hyperscalers drive digital expansion. - Seacom provides the backbone. Africa's digital future depends on agile, scalable infrastructure and true data centre neutrality. Seacom is making this a reality.
Zawya
08-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Seacom appoints two senior executives
Seacom, a leading provider of digital infrastructure and digital services across Africa, is pleased to announce the appointment of two senior executives to bolster its leadership team. Effective 1 April 2025, Mandisa Ntloko-Petersen joined as the new Group chief marketing officer (CMO), while Charl Slabbert assumes the Group chief financial officer (CFO) role. Alpheus Mangale, the Group chief executive, expressed his enthusiasm for bringing these accomplished leaders into the Group executive committee. "Both Mandisa and Charl bring considerable astuteness and insight to their fields. Their previous international experience in c-suite roles will greatly benefit Seacom. They are well-acquainted with the industry, having worked with other leading brands in South Africa and beyond. We anticipate the value they will bring to their roles and the strengthening of our top-tier leadership at Seacom," he stated. Charl Slabbert is a seasoned finance executive with over 25 years of experience in various executive roles. His expertise is not limited to finance, but also encompasses corporate strategy, operations management, business integration and restructuring, mergers and acquisitions, and stakeholder management. Slabbert's career experience extends to South Africa, several African countries, and the United Kingdom. In addition to his academic qualifications in accounting, he is affiliated with Saica as a chartered accountant and the IOD as a chartered director. "I am excited to join Seacom as the Group CFO. My strategic, private equity and financial expertise will allow me to contribute positively to Seacom," said Slabbert. "With my prior experiences as Group CFO and Strategy executive in Vodacom, Cell C and various enterprise service providers, I am well prepared to engage with Seacom's diverse shareholder environments. I thrive on the strategic thinking required in a Group CFO role and look forward to being a key player in the company's corporate leadership." Mangale added: "Charl brings extensive experience in strategic, commercial, and operational finance, with a proven track record in Africa. His expertise in managing mergers, acquisitions, and stakeholder relationships in listed and private equity settings is valuable to Seacom." Mandisa Ntloko-Petersen is an accomplished marketer, with a wealth of experience and a proven track record in the ICT sector, boasting 30 years of expertise in marketing, communications, and brand positioning. Her extensive background includes leadership roles at BCX, Dimension Data, MTN, and Accenture, where she has driven significant brand growth and innovation. Ntloko-Petersen is known for her innovative approach to leveraging brand positioning and digital tools. She is deeply committed to youth and women development and creating a significant impact beyond the corporate sphere. "In her new role, Mandisa will lead our brand and marketing efforts, focusing on enhancing Seacom's brand presence, driving client engagement, and supporting our growth objectives. Specifically, she will oversee the brand positioning for both our Digital Services and Digital Infrastructure businesses. Her leadership will be instrumental in defining and executing strategies differentiating our offerings in these key areas, ensuring that Seacom remains at the forefront of innovation and customer satisfaction," says Mangale. Ntloko-Petersen holds a degree in International Relations and Industrial Sociology from Wits University. She was awarded the Nelson Mandela Scholarship for her MBA degree, which she completed at the University of Warwick in the UK. She also completed an MBA exchange programme at Esade Business School in Spain. Mangale concluded: "I am eager to collaborate with these two senior leaders as they join Seacom's senior Group leadership team. They bring the right credentials and approach to excel in our team environment and unlock significant value from their teams."
