It was reported that both SEA-ME-WE4 and SEA-ME-WE3 (primary optical cables that connect Asia-Middle East and Europe) were damaged and hence internet connections between Asia and Europe will be disrupted most probably till end of 2008. These two cables are the primary links between Asia, Middle East and Europe and obviously are carrying a significant amount of load. SEA-ME-WE3 is the longest optical cable link in the world and since it was not sufficient enough to bear the heavy load SEA-ME-WE4 was added to complement it.
From the way it looks, seems both the cables are heavily damaged this time probably by a trawler net or a anchor of a ship. Whatever it is the French company who has undertaken the repair work claims that the cables are dragged long distance apart and the cables need to be taken to the ship in order to do the reconnection which is a complex process that may take days.
This incident took me interested to see what are the cables that connect Sri Lanka and the rest of the world.
contains the map as of end 2008.
Following are the names of the cables incase the map is not so clear :) .
Bharat Lanka Cable System
Maldives-Sri Lanka
SEA-ME-WE 4
SEA-ME-WE 3
SEA-ME-WE 2
