A ship dragging its anchor in the English Channel has cut the three main undersea internet cables connecting the Channel Islands to the UK. The incident occurred overnight, causing slower broadband speeds and connectivity issues across Jersey and Guernsey.
Telecom companies JT, Sure, and BT have confirmed the damage, with engineers dispatched to repair the cables. JT stated that repairs could take up to three weeks. The ship, believed to be the King Arthur, anchored north of Alderney on Monday evening, according to Jersey's coastguard.
Master Pilot Peter Moore noted that the area has clear instructions against fishing or dropping anchor due to the presence of undersea cables. An investigation will determine if the ship anchored in a prohibited zone. The BBC has approached the ship's owner, Mediterranea di Navigazione, for comment.
All of JT's communications traffic is now routed through a single link to France, leading to slower connections and call problems. Daragh McDermott from JT described the incident as "exceptionally unlucky and unprecedented" for three cables to be cut in one day. He warned customers may notice service impacts.
This is the second such incident this year; in January, a ship's anchor cut a cable during stormy weather. Jersey Treasury Minister Senator Alan Maclean stated that if damage is attributable to a specific owner, legal action may be pursued.
