France Telecom, responsible for repairing cable "smw4" that was cut last Friday morning, managed to reach the cable's two sides in the bottom of the Mediterranean. The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology expected that this step would accelerate repairs. Six cables were severed at one go last Friday morning, thus affecting the Internet in Egypt and several Arab and Asian countries. Smw3, Smw4, and flag cables feed Egypt with the Internet and international communications. A source with the ad hoc committee formed by Minister of Communications and Information Technology Tarek Kamel said the cable that was picked by the French company is the main feeder to Egypt and once it was repaired, the Internet services would be improved.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source said the Italian side confirmed that a ship is now on scene to help begin repairs on the three damaged cables. France Telecom will repair 'smw3' cable after repairing 'smw4' cable, the source said, adding that TA Data is the only company that owns capacities on 'smw3' cable, which has not been repaired yet.
According to Kamel, France Telecom may have the main cable repaired by the end of this week.
