Kobus Olckers of the Regional Space Warning Centre for Africa says that an X-class flare - the most destructive for technology and telecommunications - was detected a week ago. These flares give off solar radiation that disrupts satellites and interferes with mobile communications.
Olckers says that last week's flare affected long-distance radio communications, navigation systems and television broadcasts.
Business Day quotes Vodacom spokesman Richard Boorman's view that the GPS systems used in South Africa relies on satellites and mobile base stations also rely on GPS signals to synchronise services and a severe storm can affect synchronisation.
