By KUNA,
Paris : Telecommunications operator, France Telecom, has begun its task of repairing three damaged, subsea cables between Sicily and Tunisia, which have been causing communications disruptions in the Middle East and parts of Asia.
The operator said Monday that the ship it sent to the area last Friday was already on-site and was undertaking the work of bringing the cables to the surface from over 300 meters and sometimes 400 meters depth.
There was no indication how the cables were damaged but it may have been a ship anchor or some form of similar, dredging device.
France Telecom said it might be necessary to displace the cables, which were damaged on December 19.
Egypt was reported to be worst affected by the problem, but Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Tunisia, Malaysia and India, among others were also said to be effected to different degrees.
France Telecoms vessel, the “Raymond Croze,” will be on-site in the Mediterranean until the end of the month, when the meticulous repair work should be completed.
Technicians and engineers on the boat are bringing each cable to the surface and carefully checking the internal fibers and repairing them individually.