A ship as large as a football field, the Léon Thévenin, plays a critical role in maintaining Africa’s internet connectivity. With a crew of over 50 engineers and technicians, this vessel roams the waters off Africa’s coast, repairing undersea internet cables that are vital for the continent’s online infrastructure.
For the past 13 years, the Léon Thévenin has been at the forefront of cable repair work, especially after incidents like the major internet outages caused by cable damage. Undersea fibre optic cables, typically designed to last 25 years with minimal maintenance, are often damaged by human activity. Fishing trawlers and improperly placed anchors are the primary culprits, scraping along the seabed and creating significant scars on the cables.
While local teams can handle faults in shallow waters, the Léon Thévenin is called upon for damage deeper than 50 meters (164 feet), where its crew can fix cables at depths exceeding 5,000 meters (16,404 feet) below sea level. This capability ensures that the African continent, which relies heavily on these cables for communication and business, remains connected even during major disruptions.
The ship’s role was highlighted recently during the 2024 internet blackout, where it was essential in fixing multiple cable failures, underscoring its importance in keeping Africa online.
Cable layer The Léon Thévenin Picture by Cosal on Wikimedia CC-BY-SA-4.0
