JT works to repair severed submarine cables

JT (formerly Jersey Telecom) reports that a ship's anchor severed three of its four international submarine cables November 28. Repairs are ongoing and the first repaired cable should be back online early this week, JT predicted.

The submarine cables connect the island with the rest of the UK. JT said that in addition to its three cable, the dragging of the ship's anchor cut several other cables.

Traffic has been routed to another link that runs through France, but the situation remains tenuous, JT announced December 1. "All traffic is being carried with a limited amount of spare capacity and the level of disruption has been minimal but the situation is far from resolved and we remain on high alert," said Daragh McDermott, director of corporate affairs for JT, via a statement posted on the company's website. "As we have said from the start, this is an unprecedented issue and there may be some disruption at peak times. I would again like to thank Islanders for their understanding and we will continue to keep everyone updated.

The cable ship Wave Sentinel is working to repair the first cable, with another ship on its way from France to address the second. The third cable will be repaired after the first two repairs have been completed.

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