Abu Dhabi: The internet problems that users in the UAE are facing after cuts to submarine cable systems were located between Alexandria and Italy, will be fixed by December 27, a spokesman from etisalat told Gulf News.

"Internet services in the UAE currently are working at 85 per cent capacity. Ships have been dispatched to the Mediterranean area to fix the cables problem," said the spokesman for the UAE's largest telecommunications company.

He said etisalat's e-marine team would help in fixing the cables problem.

In a statement etisalat said that internet traffic in the UAE had been affected due to three submarine cable cuts in the Mediterranean Sea.

"The redundant links deployed by etisalat for such an eventuality have meant that normal internet browsing and essential traffic will continue to work at reasonable speeds for the company's customers," the company said.

etisalat added: "The heavy investment by etisalat in building a robust network with redundant links to major global internet hubs in Asia, Europe, and USA, has ensured that the traffic can be re-routed, ensuring that internet services can remain operational in the UAE."

etisalat's shares closed 4.12 per cent lower at Dh11.55 a share on the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange.