Broadband, communications and managed service providers (MSP) Wavenet and Daisy Corporate Services have this afternoon announced that they intend to “join forces” to create the UK’s “largest independent IT managed service provider.”

The merger will, it’s said, create a £500m revenue company that supports over 22,000 businesses and public sector organisations delivering cloud, cyber security and connectivity solutions. The deal will also see Daisy Chairman, Matthew Riley, join the Board as a non-executive director.

Both Wavenet and Daisy have expanded a fair bit in recent years, both “through organic growth and strategic acquisitions”. In June 2023, Daisy also acquired ECSC, bolstering its cyber and security capability. Wavenet has similarly completed six acquisitions since 2021 to boost its growth trajectory, as well as building up its IT services, cyber and next generation communications capabilities.

Wavenet Chairman, Bill Dawson, said:

“We are thrilled to be joining forces with Daisy. By combining our strengths, resources and expertise, we are poised to create a stronger and more innovative organisation, well positioned to maximise on the rising tide markets of cyber, cloud and intelligent networks.

Daisy is a well-known and well-respected business, and both parties bring unique but complementary strengths to the table. Our shared vision is to create a best-in-class business that will help shape the future of next generation technology.”

Matthew Riley, Chairman of Daisy Group, added:

“Daisy and Wavenet are a great fit, not just in terms of our current operations but our future aspirations and our culture. People are a top priority for both businesses, and we believe that our combined breadth of skill and depth of expertise will be unrivalled in our marketplace.

The newly combined business will be primed for growth through the increased scale of our offering, greater market reach and cross-selling opportunities. We will also strengthen our existing alliances with global tech providers with the new business becoming the number one partner for many.”

The deal will see Wavenet’s existing private equity partner Macquarie Capital Principal Finance become the largest shareholder, with Matthew Riley and other existing Daisy shareholders retaining a minority stake in the business. The transaction is, however, still subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Wavenet was advised by Travers Smith, with DWF Group advising Daisy Corporate Services.

News 

After initial lab trials beginning in October, the site is now being opened commercially 

This week, Samsung and O2 Telefonica have announced the launch of their first German virtualised RAN (vRAN) and Open RAN commercial site in Landsberg am Lech, Bavaria. It is the first time that Samsung’s 5G vRAN has been used in a German commercial network. 

The launch follows their collaboration announced in October 2023, where the two companies pledged to test vRAN and Open RAN technologies. Now, following successful trials, they are‘re moving from lab testing in Munich to real-world deployment, with plans to expand to seven more sites in the area. 

The trial builds on more efficient and advanced RAN technology. Open RAN provides greater flexibility and choice when building mobile networks. It allows operators to mix and match components from different vendors, promoting innovation and a more diverse supply chain.  

Both vRAN and Open RAN aim to increase flexibility and enable innovation in mobile networks, and they both leverage virtualisation to promote a more open and interoperable network. But software-centric vRAN helps the adoption of cloud-native architecture, allowing network operators to better automate functions and introduce new technologies and services to their networks quickly and efficiently. This is important for accelerating network buildouts and adopting new 5G applications, such as augmented reality and use cases that require low latency. 

“On the way to the network of the future, we are integrating new network solutions to provide our customers with outstanding connectivity. Open RAN is a building block that can help us to automate our network, deploy new updates faster and use network components more flexibly,” said Mallik Rao, Chief Technology & Information Officer of O2 Telefonica in a statement. 

According to Samsung, the next steps for the two companies will include deploying Samsung’s intelligent network automation solutions to “control life cycle management”. This automation solution will accelerate software-based network updates by automating the process, impacting thousands of network sites simultaneously. 

Join us at this year’s Connected Germany event, 5-6 November in Munich. Get tickets here!

Also in the news:
T-Mobile and EQT form JV to buy Lumos
Korean Air shows off comprehensive urban air mobility system backed by 5G
Virgin Media O2 reaches plastic waste milestone

Internet provider Sky Broadband has responded to this week’s introduction of the government’s new network security laws (here) by emailing customers with older Sky routers to warn them that their device “no longer receives service and security updates.” The good news is that those who receive these letters might be in line for a free router upgrade.

One of the measures under the new Secure by Design rules, which started being enforced from 29th April 2024, is that manufacturers and retailers must be “open with consumers on the minimum time they can expect to receive important security updates” from their smart / connected devices (e.g. broadband routers, phones, TVs, game consoles, smart doorbells etc.).

Suffice to say that this represents a new challenge for many broadband ISPs, particularly larger players with a base of legacy customers. Such customers will often still be using the same router and other network hardware that was bundled alongside their package some years earlier. Naturally, this isn’t such an issue if the internet provider is continuing to keep that kit up-to-date, but that’s not going to be the case for every device.

The first example we have of how ISPs are responding to this comes courtesy of ISPreview reader Rob, who kindly shared a copy of the email he just received from Sky Broadband. The ISP makes it expressly clear that the router he’s using, which we understand, is an ER115 (Sky Q Hub) for ADSL and FTTC lines, will no longer be receiving security updates.

The message makes reference to a new page on Sky’s website (here), which clarifies some of the key points and appears to offer customers who receive the letter a free upgrade to a more modern router. But for some reason, they’re only giving customers a month to take advantage of this.

Sky’s Router Offer Q&As

When do I need to register for a replacemet hub by?
You need to register for a new hub by 3rd June 2024.

Why do I need a new hub?
Your current hub no longer receives (or from 2025 will stop receiving) service and security updates so we’d like to offer you a new hub.

What do I need to do once I’ve registered for a new hub?
You don’t need to do anything. We aim to send out a new hub to you by 17th June 2024. Once you receive it, follow the instructions included in the box to set it up and reconnect your devices.

Who is eligible for this offer?
This offer is only available to existing Sky Broadband customers with a hub that no longer receives or (or from 2025 will stop receiving) service and security updates. You must have received an email from us about this, be the primary account holder and are authorised to make changes to the account.

However, there is a slight contradiction in the small print at the bottom of the page, where it gives a date in the past (12th April 2024) for when the offer must be consumed – that’s clearly an error. The small print also confirms that the “upgrade [is] available to recipients of the email only. Must be an existing Sky Broadband customer and currently using a Sky Hub 3 or earlier. Claim for a new hub must be received by 12 April 2024. ”

Sky can sometimes get a bit weird with their router naming conventions (i.e. sometimes using different names for identical or nearly identical kit), but for the avoidance of doubt the Sky Hub 3 is also called the Sky Q Hub – in fact the latter is exactly what Sky used on their website (here). We think Sky should also include the model number on the above page.

Overall, this is a positive move from Sky, which are being open and transparent with their customers about the realities of their hardware support. But we suspect that they won’t be the only ISP to introduce such a promotion, particularly as all providers now face the same obligation.

Finally, it’s interesting to note that Sky says “no longer receives (or from 2025 will stop receiving) service and security updates,” which might indicate that the Sky Hub 3 / Q Hub won’t be the only router to go this way in 2024.

Network builder and UK broadband ISP CommunityFibre (CF), which runs a large 10Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) network across London and surrounding areas, has notified that their sibling Altnet for Surrey and West Sussex, Box Broadband, will in the near future be adopting CF’s branding.

In case anybody has forgotten, Box Broadband was originally acquired by CF back in the summer of 2021 (here) and, at the last update some time ago, they were claiming to have covered around 50,000 premises across various communities in the Surrey and West Sussex counties of England. But they previously held a “goal of delivering fibre to in excess of 250,000 homes by the end of 2024”.

However, given the recent slowdown of build and redundancies at CF (here and here), it’s perhaps not surprising that Box’s parent operator is now starting to bring the two brands closer together – a change that looks as if it will start to be introduced from around the middle of next week (8th May).

News

A new proposal would bar entities that are “national security concerns” from receiving wireless equipment authorizations from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

Republican and Democratic members of the FCC have announced bipartisan support for a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would hold impose strict national-security criteria to test labs and telecommunications certification bodies that approve wireless devices for the U.S. market.

The proposal, supported by FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, a Democrat, and FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, a Republican, will be voted on at the FCC’s next open meeting, according to a May 1 release from the FCC Office of Media Relations.

Commissioner Carr called the proposal “another significant step in the FCC’s work to advance the security of America’s communications networks,” in comments included with the FCC’s release.

“It does so by proposing to ensure that the test labs and certification bodies that review electronic devices for compliance with FCC requirements are themselves trustworthy actors that the FCC can rely on,” Carr said.

The proposal would add another set of rules to the FCC’s equipment authorization program, which was adopted after the Secure Equipment Act of 2021 was implemented. According to the FCC’s announcement, the proposal would prohibit the equipment authorization program from working with any lab or certification body with that is either directly or indirectly controlled by an entity on the FCC’s “Covered List.”

Entities on the FCC’s Covered List “are deemed to pose an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States or the security and safety of United States persons,” according to the FCC’s website.

The proposal, if adopted, would utilize a 10 percent ownership or control threshold, and a 5 percent reporting threshold to determine which telecommunications certification bodies and test labs are ineligible for use by the FCC’s equipment authorization program.

“Communications networks are a part of everything we do, and it’s why their security matters more than ever before,” Rosenworcel’s comments stated.  “So, we must ensure that our equipment authorization program and those entrusted with administering it can rise to the challenge posed by persistent and ever-changing security and supply chain threats.”

Entities on the FCC’s Covered List include Huawei Technologies Company, which last week had a test lab denied by the FCC for participation in the equipment authorization program, the FCC’s announcement stated.

“This new proceeding would permanently prohibit Huawei and other entities on the FCC’s Covered List from playing any role in the equipment authorization program while also providing the FCC and its national security partners the necessary tools to safeguard this important process,” the agency’s announcement read.

Huawei, which has been on the Covered List since March 2021, is a Chinese multinational communications conglomerate that produces smart devices and technology infrastructure. It is far from the only Chinese company on the FCC’s Covered List, which also includes firms like China Mobile International USA Inc., China Telecom (Americas) Corp., and China Unicom (Americas) Operations Limited, all of which were added to the list in 2022.

To get content like this delivered to your inbox, subscribe to the Broadband Communities newsletter

Network operator Openreach (BT) has published the next batch of 84 exchanges (Tranche 16) in their “FTTP Priority Exchange Stop Sell” programme, which reflects areas where over 75% of premises are able to get full fibre and will thus stop selling copper based analogue phone and broadband products (i.e. FTTP becomes the only available product).

Currently there are two schemes for moving away from old copper lines and services, which can sometimes criss-cross. The first starts with the gradual migration of traditional analogue voice (PSTN) services to digital all-IP technologies (e.g. SOGEA), which is due to complete by December 2025 and is occurring on both copper and full fibre products (i.e. ISPs are introducing digital voice / VoIP services). The national “stop sell” on analogue phone services began on 5th September 2023 (here).

The second “FTTP Priority Exchange” project involves the ongoing rollout of gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) lines – using light signals via optical fibre instead of electrical signals via slow copper lines. Only after this second project has largely completed (75%+ FTTP coverage) in an exchange area can you really start to completely switch-off copper-based products, but that’s a long process because you have to allow time for customer migrations.

Between the scrapping of analogue phone services, the full fibre rollout and the gradual switch away from copper lines, this process will take several years in each area to complete, and the pace will vary (i.e. some areas have better coverage of full fibre than others). Naturally, premises that can’t yet get FTTP will continue to be served by copper-based broadband products.

84 New Exchange Locations (Tranche 16)

The migration process away from the legacy services starts with a “no move back” policy (i.e. no going back to copper) for premises connected with fibre, which is followed by a “stop-sell” of copper services to new customers (12-months of notice is given before this starts and that is what today’s list represents). This stage is then followed by a final “withdrawal” phase, but that comes later. The stop sell is applied at premises level, so it shouldn’t impact you if you don’t yet have access to FTTP (edge-case conflicts may still occur due to rare quirks of network availability).

The 84 exchanges announced today – covering 880,000 premises – takes the total number of exchange upgrades that have already been notified as part of the aforementioned process (including trial exchanges), or which are actively under “stop sell“, to 1022. The “stop sell” in the Tranche 16 areas will be introduced from 26th May 2025.

By the summer, these ‘stop sell’ rules will have been activated in a total of more than 700 exchanges – meaning around 6 million UK premises will be under active Stop Sell.

The operator also has a Stop Sells Page to their website, which usually makes it easy to see all the planned changes, but for the last couple of updates the download link for their latest Tranches has adopted the .mht (web archive) format that doesn’t load in any of the web browsers we’ve tried. We’ve highlighted this to Openreach before, although the issue remains.

Otherwise, the following list is tentative, so changes and delays will occur (exchanges can and are often shifted around into different tranches).

84 Stop Sell Exchanges in Tranche 16

Exchange Name
Exchange Location

1. Aberdeen Portlethen (PIP)
Portlethen

2. Aberdeen West
Aberdeen

3. Addingham
Addingham

4. Alderminster
Alderminster

5. Appleton Roebuck
Appleton Roebuck

6. Ashington (AIT)
Ashington (Northumberland)

7. Aspull (ASP)
Greater Manchester – Wigan

8. Atherton (ATH)
Greater Manchester – Wigan

9. Attercliffe (SF/AC)
Sheffield

10. Barking
Greater London – Barking and Dagenham

11. Barnby Dun
Doncaster

12. Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland

13. Bridgend
Bridgend

14. Burnham-On-Sea
Burnham-on-Sea

15. Busby (GW/BUS)
Glasgow

16. Buxton
Buxton (High Peak)

17. Carlisle
Carlisle

18. Chatham Dock (CH/DY)
Gillingham (Kent)

19. Chesterfield (CD)
Chesterfield

20. Clynnogfawr
Trefor

21. Coalville (CJY)
Coalville

22. Cowers Lane
Heage

23. Dowsby
Rippingale

24. Dromara
Saintfield

25. Dunchurch (DEY)
Rugby

26. East (MR/EAS)
Greater Manchester – Manchester

27. Evington (LXV)
Leicester

28. Exeter Castle
Exeter

29. Flamborough
Flamborough

30. Foxhall
Ispwich 

31. Grimsby
Grimsby

32. Hadleigh Essex (HVL)
Rayleigh

33. Heath Hayes (HYY)
Cannock

34. Houghton Le Spring (HMI)
Houghton-le-Spring

35. Huddersfield (HF)
Huddersfield

36. Ilkeston (II)
Ilkeston

37. Ilkley
Ilkley

38. Kidsgrove
Kidsgrove

39. Kingskerswell
Kingskerswell

40. Knaresborough (KB)
Knaresborough

41. Leagrave (LGV)
Luton

42. Leven
Leven

43. Lindfield (LEL)
Haywards Heath

44. Llanbrynmair
Llanbrynmair

45. Llanrumney
Cardiff

46. Lofthouse Gate (UOG)
Wakefield

47. Mareham Le Fen
Mareham le Fen

48. Medway
Chatham

49. Moore
Moore

50. Mossley (MMF)
Greater Manchester – Tameside

51. Motherwell (MOO)
Motherwell

52. New Cross
Greater London – Southwark

53. New Mills
New Mills

54. North Cave
South Cave

55. North Kelsey
North Kelsey

56. Oldham
Greater Manchester – Oldham

57. Penistone
Penistone

58. Pontardawe
Pontardawe

59. Raunds (RBC)
Raunds

60. Rearsby (RBX)
Rearsby

61. Richill
Craigavon

62. Ross On Wye
Ross-on-Wye

63. Rotherfield
Rotherfield

64. Roxwell
Chelmsford

65. Rugby
Rugby

66. Scotter
Scotter

67. Scunthorpe
Scunthorpe

68. Sherburn Hill
Sherburn (County Durham)

69. Skegness
Skegness

70. Solihull (BM/SOL)
Solihull

71. South Shore
Blackpool

72. Southend (SMU)
Southend-on-Sea

73. Stotfold (XTO)
Stotfold

74. Stratford on Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon

75. Templepatrick
Antrim

76. Thurnby (TBV)
Leicester

77. Torquay
Torquay

78. Tregynon
Tregynon

79. Ulgham
Ellington (Northumberland)

80. Undercliffe (QDQ)
Bradford

81. Upminster (L/UP)
Greater London – Havering

82. Waltham On The Wolds
Waltham on the Wolds

83. Wickersley
Rotherham

84. Withdean
Brighton and Hove

Homes and businesses in the New Forest (Hampshire, England) village of Everton were left cut-off from part of Openreach’s UK broadband and phone services this week, which occurred after criminals caused significant damage to the network while attempting to steal the operator’s copper telecoms cable.

The incident, which began on Monday, impacted 128 premises across the community and local reports (here) quote Hampshire Police as saying that 70 metres of copper cable was pulled up from a point on Lymington Road. Two men were spotted working in yellow jackets around a pavement near to that location a couple of days prior to the incident, possibly in preparation for the later theft.

Crimes like this have become common in recent years, driven in part by the high price of copper, although a series of UK-wide arrests toward the end of 2022 (example) – followed by some convictions – did put a limited dent in the activity. More recently, Openreach has seen a sharp 30% reduction in cable theft over the past year after introducing a new forensic liquid marker (SelectaDNA) to help track and protect their network (here).

However, SelectaDNA takes time to deploy and can’t be added to cables that are already in the ground, which leaves some scope for thieves to continue targeting the operator’s core copper cables. The perpetrators of such crimes never have any regard for the harm they cause to locals, some of which are dependent upon the related services.

An Openreach spokesperson said:

“We’re really disappointed that residents in the Everton area have borne the brunt of criminal behaviour and theft from our network. These attacks cause significant damage and unacceptable disruption to the lives of local people and put vulnerable people at risk.

Our cable was cut on Monday and the damage has impacted phone and broadband services to around 128 local homes and businesses. Engineers are working to restore services as quickly and safely as possible.”

Feedback posted to the local Facebook community group suggests that at least some of the affected homes may have been reconnected by late afternoon on Monday. We have since asked Openreach to supply a more up-to-date statement and await their response.

The rollout of full fibre (FTTP) lines should, eventually, help to reduce such thefts as fibre has no value to thieves. But this won’t completely stop the problem from occurring because fibre and copper cables often share some of the same ducts, and thieves sometimes confuse the two. BT and Openreach will eventually remove their copper cables too, but that’s a much longer process.

Openreach also has a partnership with Crimestoppers, which sometimes offers rewards for information given anonymously to the charity about cable thefts, if it leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible – you can contact them 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111 or use their anonymous online form. You can also contact Openreach’s security team direct or report via the local police (101), or if you see a crime in progress, then call the police on 999.

Brighouse, 1st May 2024 – Abzorb, an innovator in public sector and business networking, has a developed and delivered a £1.2 million network transformation project for Norfolk County Council (NCC) that reduces costs while increasing performance and security across 221 sites. It developed a unified software-defined wide-area networking (SD-WAN) solution that enables NCC to use the most cost-effective connectivity provider at each site with monitoring and visibility delivered in a single platform.

90% of end users at NCC say they see improvement in network performance since the deployment and it has simplified things for the internal IT team as they no longer need to monitor and manage multiple solutions and providers. Abzorb created a bespoke internet-based solution that enables NCC to leverage the best networking technologies at each site, including FTTP, SoGEA, and Fibre Ethernet, while selecting the most cost-efficient and high-performing provider for long-term cost reductions.

“Abzorb provided us with a flexible foundation for connecting more than 200 sites with the best networking option at each site. Its technology and provider agnostic approach has enabled the Authority to improve security, reduce complexity and deliver savings benefiting the council, the communities we serve. The Abzorb team understands public sector and it’s challenges which helps us to develop a solution that is easy to manage with a small team but delivers trusted and reliable connectivity,” said Kurt Fray, Head of IT at Norfolk County Council. “Cost efficiencies mean that we’re able to explore emerging technologies and strategies to further optimise our IT capabilities and continue to enhance Digital services and Digital Service delivery in Norfolk.”

Abzorb’s tailored SD-WAN solution for NCC integrates existing hardware and optimises connectivity options at each location. It also simplifies network management with automated ticketing and fortifies network security with protection against Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. Abzorb monitors and manages NCC’s networking environment with a single streamlined support helpdesk service.

“Public sector networking doesn’t have to be complicated. We worked in collaboration with Norfolk County Council to understand their ambition, strategy, IT estate and investments then developed a solution that wouldn’t require ‘ripping and replacing’ existing investments in technology. Instead, we simplified operations and found ways to maximise the value of existing equipment within a solution that leverages cloud, automation and cybersecurity,” said Dean Al-Sened, Head of Public Sector and Enterprise at Abzorb. “We’ve proven that network transformation can deliver simplicity, flexibility, and agility for local councils. You just have to understand public sector needs and deliver innovative and creative solutions.”

The partnership enables Norfolk County Council to meet the evolving demands of its constituents and positions the County Council to proactively adapt to emerging trends, technologies and cloud services. Abzorb is a UK-based network solutions provider with 20+ years of experience delivering digital transformation for public sector organisations, service providers and enterprises.

####

About Abzorb

Abzorb Systems is a leading network solutions provider with over 20 years of experience. Headquartered in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, Abzorb understands that telecom solutions are not one-size-fits-all. Partnering with top-tier providers, it offers tailored communication solutions to enhance business operations. With 100,000s of mobile, fixed voice and data customer connections, it understands that technology and communications can shape and play a pivotal role in your business operations.

Partnering exclusively with top-tier providers, it delivers communication solutions that truly elevate business activities. Abzorb’s comprehensive suite of telecom services empowers businesses to tailor their telecom options according to their unique needs and those of their customers. Abzorb’s vision is to simplify the increasingly complex world of communications for its customers and partners, whilst enabling them to conduct business more efficiently by managing all their communication needs in one centralized platform.

https://www.abzorb.co.uk/

About Norfolk County Council

Norfolk County Council (NCC) is the main local authority for Norfolk providing services countywide to more than 900,000 Norfolk residents. It takes the lead in critical policy areas, working with 84 elected Members responsible for the strategic local government services in the county.

NCC provides high quality service through involving people who use our services to shape and comment on them and by promoting efficiency and innovation. NCC works in partnership with local businesses, voluntary organisations and other local authorities such as District and Parish Councils in order to provide the people of Norfolk with excellent services.

https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/

Having access to reliable, high-speed internet for work, communication and improved education opportunities is vital in today’s society with fibre fast becoming an essential utility. However, projects to support digital inclusivity often place emphasis on connecting rural communities and there are areas in towns and cities that remain overlooked.

These include MDUs, which have been a challenge to connect to high-speed internet. This is largely due to the more complex installation considerations MDUs demand and the need to work alongside landlords and housing associations who must comply with their own stringent safety standards.

MS3 Networks is tackling these challenges head on to provide more choice in broadband provider to those living in MDUs. Working closely with HCC, the company has been granted a master wayleave agreement to allow access to its MDU premises. Once connected to MS3’s network, tenants will enjoy a greater selection of broadband providers thanks to the growing number of internet service provider (ISP) partners on the network.

For decades, Hull residents have been limited to a single broadband provider and, as a result, some of the highest broadband costs in the country. Competition from the likes of MS3 Networks is turning that tide. As a wholesale network operator, MS3 has a growing list of ISP partners on its network, each offering a range of packages and prices.

“Offering access to MDUs is an important part of our strategy,” explained Jo Fleming, corporate partnerships manager at MS3 Networks. “MS3 holds a strong belief in the power of technology to bridge the digital divide and promote equal opportunities for all, and we have taken various steps to ensure that individuals from all communities benefit from the progress of the digital era. 

“Our business model works in a way that is quite unique, in that we sell directly via our multitude of wholesale partners only.  What this means is that the consumer can select internet packages that are aligned to their individual bandwidth and budget needs. In addition, our wholesale partners have implemented social tariffs specifically tailored to lessen the financial burden on individuals belonging to more economically disadvantaged communities. These tariffs provide discounted rates for internet services, making them more accessible to those who would otherwise struggle to afford them.

“We strive to work with Local Authorities and MPs with their digital inclusion strategies and understand the needs of the local areas and the overall economic benefit we can bring.”

To learn more about MS3 Networks and its partner network across the Humber region, visit the website.

News

Reports suggest that the West Africa Cable System (WACS) has been repaired this week, leaving just one remaining cable system awaiting repairs

In March this year, four submarine cables situated on the West Coast of Africa – WACS, Sat-3, Ace, and MainOne – were severed near the Ivory Coast, causing major internet issues across the continent.

The exact cause of the damage was unclear, though seismic activity in the region was the primary suspect.

Response by the cable owners was swift, with much of the affected traffic quickly migrated to other neighbouring cables, like Google’s Equiano system. However, disruption remained across the region, notably impacting Microsoft’s data centre operations in South Africa.

To make matters worse, repairing the cables would be far from straightforward. Earlier that same month, a trio of submarine cables had been severed in the geopolitically volatile Red Sea, drawing the attention of the small yet efficient cable repair ship community. This left relevant cable ships not only a continent away from the breaks in West Africa, but also battling through a lengthy permissions process to gain access to the militarily sensitive Red Sea.

As a result, repairs to the damaged Africa cables have faced lengthy delays. Sat-3 was reportedly repaired at the start of April, while repairs to the WACS were only completed on Tuesday.

While no specific announcement appears to have been made, the Ace system also appears to now be operational, according to reports.

The status of the MainOne cable remains unclear, though a cable ship (CS Sovereign) has reportedly been assigned to repair it, a process which should take until May 11.

How is the submarine cable ecosystem evolving in 2024? Join the cable operators in discussion at this year’s Submarine Networks EMEA conference

Also in the news:
T-Mobile and EQT form JV to buy Lumos
Korean Air shows off comprehensive urban air mobility system backed by 5G
Virgin Media O2 reaches plastic waste milestone