UAE Internet users suffered from undersea cables cut

Recently, UAE Internet users are frustrated with slow Internet speed. Problems began on Dec 19 when three cables between Egypt and Sicily were inexplicably cut.

UAE Internet users are still struggling to get on to the Internet, especially accessing download intensive sites such as YouTube. Frequent user of video-sharing, video-streaming or video-conferencing, have not been able to carry out their works. France Telecom said the UAE lost nearly 70 per cent of its capacity, and that other countries such as Saudi Arabia lost about 50 per cent. Sources at Etisalat said services were on the verge of being in full operation yesterday afternoon. Problems began on Dec 19, when three cables between Egypt and Sicily were severed. The cause was unknown. It was speculated that an undersea earthquake or landslide cut the cables, which were hundreds of kilometres apart. It is thought the FLAG FEA, SMW4, and SMW3 lines, near the Alexandria cable station in Egypt, have all been cut. Earlier in 2008, the same line was damaged in the same area off the Egyptian coast, although only two lines were snapped then.