Internet Disruption in East Africa

The recent internet disruptions in East Africa caused by damaged undersea cables serve as a stark reminder of our critical dependence on this infrastructure.

In today's world, internet connectivity is no longer a luxury; it's a necessity that underpins everything from communication and commerce to education and healthcare. These frequent outages disrupt businesses, hinder communication, and limit access to vital information. This is why nations across the globe must come together to ensure the security and resilience of subsea cables as collaboration is key. 

Here are some ways nations can collaborate to achieve this goal: 

1. Joint Monitoring and Threat Assessment: Establish international task forces to monitor potential threats to subsea cables, including both natural and man-made hazards. Sharing real-time information can help in early detection and prevention of outages. 

2. Standardization and Best Practices: Develop and implement standardized protocols for cable construction, maintenance, and repair. This will ensure a consistent level of protection across all regions. 

3. Investment in Redundancy: Encourage investment in building redundant cable routes and backup systems. This will minimize the impact of outages on any single cable. 

4. Information Sharing and Knowledge Transfer: Foster knowledge exchange between developed and developing nations regarding subsea cable management and security measures. 

By working together, nations can create a more secure and robust subsea cable infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted internet connectivity for all. The recent East African outage is a wake-up call. Let's use this as an opportunity to better strengthen our global cooperation and build a more resilient future.

Mutheu Khimulu is Kenya's first formally trained Cybersecurity Lawyer as well as one of the first on the African continent. She is also a Legal Specialist in Counterterrorism, Crisis Management, Data Privacy, Financial Regulation & AML Law