Why the constant internet cable problem in Kuwait?

Why the constant internet cable problem in Kuwait?

Posted on 01. Mar, 2010 by in Telecom

I did a little research on the nature of the internet connectivity origin in Kuwait and came up with the following ideas that can summarized in the following lines;

Connectivity

  1. Kuwait is connected through submarine fiber optic cables which are:
    1. FALCON – (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, India)
      1. this cable was cut on the 1st of Feb. 2008
    2. FLAG FALCON – (FLAG Alcatel-Lucent Optical Network) – (Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, India, Maldives)
      1. Cable faced interruptions in Feb. 2008, December 2008, and August 2009.
    3. FOG – (Fiber Optic Gulf) (UAE-Qatar-Bahrain-Kuwait)
      1. Cable faced interruptions in Feb. 2010.
      2. This cable was completed by Fujitsu and signed for by Kuwait’s MOC, Bahrain’s Batelco, Qatar’s Q-Tel, and UAE’s Etisalat in 1995 and completed in 1997. Source
      3. The cable is procured from Pirelli of Italy
  2. if any of the three cables faces a problem, major problems are faced in connectivity in Kuwait.

Connectivity Comparison

UAE Cables

  1. EIG – (Europe India Gateway) (UK, Portugal, Morocco, Gibraltar, France, Monaco, Libya, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Djibouti, Oman, UAE, India)
  2. FLAG FALCON – (FLAG Alcatel-Lucent Optical Network) – (Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, India, Maldives)
  3. FOG – (Fiber Optic Gulf) (UAE-Qatar-Bahrain-Kuwait)
  4. FOG2 – (Fiber Optic Gulf 2) (UAE-Iraq-Saudi Arabia)
  5. I-ME-WE – (India-Middle East-Western Europe) (India, Pakistan, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the Lebanon, Italy, France) (planned)
  6. TEAMS – (The East African Marine System) (UAE-Kenya) (planned)
  7. TWA-1 (Transworld Associates) (UAE-Oman-Pakistan)

Bahrain Cables

  1. FALCON – (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, India)
  2. FLAG FALCON – (FLAG Alcatel-Lucent Optical Network) – (Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, India, Maldives)
  3. FOG – (Fiber Optic Gulf) (UAE-Qatar-Bahrain-Kuwait)

Qatar Cables

  1. FALCON – (Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, India)
  2. FLAG FALCON – (FLAG Alcatel-Lucent Optical Network) – (Egypt, Sudan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait, Oman, India, Maldives)
  3. FOG – (Fiber Optic Gulf) (UAE-Qatar-Bahrain-Kuwait)

the reason why i have selected the above three countries is to make a more fair comparison on country size and population, since UAE is a much bigger country with higher population, more connectivity would be required, on the other hand Qatar and Bahrain are within the same supply of cable in Kuwait. The point to notice that UAE has  5 existing cables and 2 planned. Qatar also has 2 planned cables to be connected from UAE. So we see some steps are taken to increase the connectivity backbone of  the countries surrounding us with no movement from our side! i guess it is important that we strengthen our internet backbone to avoid such interruptions. this was just a brief Google search with the possibility of many technical misunderstandings and mistakes. please let me know what you think.

Sources:

  1. List of international submarine communications cables
  2. Map of international submarine cables

also note the below pictures of how the cables are installed under sea water and the ships that perform the procedures from start to finish. also there are some pictures of old cables and how it affects the enviroment.

- this cable was completed by Fujitsu and signed for by Kuwait’s MOC, Bahrain’s Batelco, Qatar’s Q-Tel, and UAE’s Etisalat in 1995.
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8 Responses to “Why the constant internet cable problem in Kuwait?”

  1. MBH

    02. Mar, 2010

    Apart from the lack of a contingency plan, which is the obvious, the question that should be asked is: Why the constant interruption to these specific cables?

    Take a look at this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_submarine_cable_disruption

  2. MBH

    02. Mar, 2010

    Apart from the lack of a contingency plan, which is the obvious, the question that should be asked is: Why the constant interruption to these specific cables?

    Take a look at this page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_submarine_cable_disruption

  3. Ali

    02. Mar, 2010

    now we are talking conspiracy theory

  4. Ali

    02. Mar, 2010

    now we are talking conspiracy theory

  5. MBH

    02. Mar, 2010

    Governments surely haven’t denied the possibility, especially when it usually coincides with global economical or political events and agendas.

    On a smaller scale, it could be done by paid militia by certain ISPs to force the MoC to alleviate its ancient grip from controlling the cables; something which if accomplished, should bring down the prices of Internet subscription heavily as the MoC charges absurd amounts to lease the cables to ISPs.

    Also, when the MoC’s shadow is no longer, ISPs will be able to lay out proper resilient infrastructure with multiple hops to multiple countries.

  6. MBH

    02. Mar, 2010

    Governments surely haven’t denied the possibility, especially when it usually coincides with global economical or political events and agendas.

    On a smaller scale, it could be done by paid militia by certain ISPs to force the MoC to alleviate its ancient grip from controlling the cables; something which if accomplished, should bring down the prices of Internet subscription heavily as the MoC charges absurd amounts to lease the cables to ISPs.

    Also, when the MoC’s shadow is no longer, ISPs will be able to lay out proper resilient infrastructure with multiple hops to multiple countries.

  7. alabassiy

    26. Apr, 2010

    this is real problem 4 the government becuuse we have more money and no service and we are the poor`s ppl in the world government take the money to them only and don` t give us a good service we are rich country and we still having problem with internet.
    the internet know the new connection way to the world and we have poor service and slow internet connection. in Europe they have connection more then 100 Mb and they bay liss than what we baying her for 3 or 4 Mb
    no one taking action and no one give us a good service
    they only think for them and how they make more money . so they don`t think for the Kuwaiti ppl`s
    God help us .

  8. alabassiy

    26. Apr, 2010

    this is real problem 4 the government becuuse we have more money and no service and we are the poor`s ppl in the world government take the money to them only and don` t give us a good service we are rich country and we still having problem with internet.
    the internet know the new connection way to the world and we have poor service and slow internet connection. in Europe they have connection more then 100 Mb and they bay liss than what we baying her for 3 or 4 Mb
    no one taking action and no one give us a good service
    they only think for them and how they make more money . so they don`t think for the Kuwaiti ppl`s
    God help us .

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