International connectivity problems are again frustrating local Internet users. Numerous broadband users reported that they were without international access this morning, something which seems to be a result of SAT-3 scheduled maintenance. <\/p>\n
According to a network notice planned maintenance is affecting SAT-3 traffic. During the maintenance traffic is being routed via alternate submarine cables (SAFE\/SMW3). “Unfortunately higher latency is a characteristic of the restoration route (via Malaysia and India to Europe) and is unavoidable,” the network notice said.<\/p>\n
The normalisation of all 94 restorable bearers from the SAFE\/SMW3 routes back to SAT-3 is scheduled for today, and Telkom pointed out that “10 minute patching breaks will be experienced during this period”. Telkom further said that higher latency will be experienced during the restoration period.<\/p>\n
“During planned maintenance by the SAT3 consortium on the SAT 3 undersea cable, a suspected power failure occurred between Lagos and Abidjan at 08:21 (South African time) which has seriously impacted Telkom traffic. The SAT3 maintenance technicians are busy re-routing restorable traffic. This process commenced at 09:59 this morning,” Telkom said,<\/p>\n
Internet Solutions has also informed their International Business DSL Satellite subscribers today that they are experiencing connectivity problems on their network. The cause of this problem is still unknown, and the company is currently investigating the problem.<\/p>\n
Two weeks ago local Internet users were also frustrated by international connectivity issues caused by maintenance work on the SAT-3 cable. At the time Telkom said that failure in the branching units resulted in a longer than anticipated downtime.<\/p>\n