Anchor blamed for severed Gulf cable
by This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it on Sunday, 10 February 2008
A six-ton ship anchor was responsible for damage to one of three severed undersea cables which caused severe disruption to internet services throughout the Middle East and India last week, Flag Telecom confirmed on Friday.
The Indian operator said a repair crew had discovered the anchor near where its Falcon fibre-optic cable was severed on February 1 in the Persian Gulf, 35 miles north of Dubai.
The cable would be repaired by Sunday, the company said, adding that the offending anchor had been taken to the surface.
It remains unclear how exactly any of the cuts occurred, or what anchor the vessel belonged to.
A company spokesman said this week a new cable would be laid between Egypt and France that would be “fully resilient” against similar cuts in the future.
Telecom Egypt meanwhile reported that internet services would be restored to normal by Monday, with repairs to one of two cables complete, and work on a second almost done.
READERS' COMMENTS
MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM
TOP IN MIDDLE EAST TECHNOLOGY
TOP MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS STORIES
ALSO IN MIDDLE EAST TECHNOLOGY
LATEST MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS NEWS
- Energy: Shell delays Qatargas4 project by a year
- Construction & Industry: Abyaar and Lacroix to build Dubai residential tower
- Travel & Hospitality: Gulf Air unveils strategy to save $2.65bn over five years
- Travel & Hospitality: Accor opening two new ibis hotels in region
- Banking & Finance: Abraaj Capital issue is fully subscribed
SHARE PRICE CHECK
RELATED STORIES
Flag Telecom
- Mother Nature versus Technology
22 Dec '08 | Comment - Undersea cable to prevent repeat of net nightmare
11 May '08 | News - Ship impounded, crew arrested for net blackout
12 Apr '08 | News




