Internet disruptions anticipated in Kamchatka during August at increased speeds
In a recent announcement, Nikolai Kiselev, the Deputy Governor of Kamchatka Krai and the Minister of Digital Development, revealed that a section of the fiber-optic line (FOL) will be relocated due to coastal erosion at Levashovo Cape. This work is scheduled to take place in the Sea of Okhotsk and is expected to last between two and ten days, beginning from August 10 and potentially extending until August 17.
The cable relocation is necessary to ensure the continued functionality of the FOL, which has been affected by the erosion. To minimise disruption, all service providers will switch subscribers to backup satellite channels during the work, ensuring access to voice communication (telephony). However, home services, including Wi-Fi and digital television, are likely to be unavailable during this period, depending on how service providers configure their satellite capacity backup.
Critical services such as emergency, medical, and banking services will be maintained with the support of Rostelecom. Rostelecom will also provide support for critical services during the absence of high-speed internet access.
A temporary internet outage in Kamchatka Krai could disrupt online communication, access to government and emergency services, business operations, and possibly affect connectivity for remote communities in this vast, sparsely populated region. Resolving such outages typically involves local ISPs and telecommunications authorities diagnosing infrastructure issues, repairing physical damage, and restoring network configurations.
The high-speed internet cable was laid nine years ago and will be relocated further to the right, to a depth of over four meters. If the weather is favourable, the operation could take around two days. Currently, the cable's depth in the Levashovo Cape area has decreased to about two meters.
It is important to note that regional or federal internet development organisations in Russia, such as the Institute for Internet Development (IRI), might be involved in support or coordination, although the current status of IRI shows organisational challenges unrelated to this specific incident.
Official announcements from regional telecommunications providers or government agencies responsible for communications infrastructure would provide the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the impact and mitigation measures for this outage. If required, I can continue to monitor news sources or provide advice on typical protocols for addressing such outages.
The fiber-optic line relocation, necessitated by coastal erosion, will involve switching subscribers to backup satellite channels to ensure voice communication (telephony) continuity, while home services like Wi-Fi and digital television may be temporarily unavailable. Although critical services such as emergency, medical, and banking will be maintained with Rostelecom's support, a potential high-speed internet outage could disrupt various services and might necessitate the involvement of local ISPs and telecommunications authorities to resolve the issue.
