Service challenges: MTN blame fibre cable cuts

Telecommunications leader, MTN has blamed disruptions in its services in recent times on the massive disruptions of its fibre optic cables.

This year alone, MTN said 62  kilometres of its fibre optic cable was cut or damaged intentionally or inadvertently,  
the Southwest zone, impacting its services.

This cost MTN five million cedis in repairs of 60 kilometres of the damaged lines.

The Technical Manager of MTN incharge South West,Teddy Hayford Acquah who made this known at a media and stakeholders forum in Cape Coast on Wednesday said about 70 to 80 percent of MTN's service disruptions in services were caused by such fibre cuts.   

Mr Acquah said though MTN had about 600kilometres of fibre optic cables laid in the Central region the cutting of their cables happened consistently, mostly during road constructions executed in the country without the necessary engagements by the agencies responsible.

According to Mr Acquah, the situation in the Central region was worsened by the Kasoa-Winneba dualization road project, Winneba-Swedru Road and some water projects around Agona Bobikuma and the many filling station developers all in the Central region.

He said almost every day a cable is down causing unavoidable disruptions in services.

Mr Acquah called for more engagements between utility providers especially the Ghana Highway Authority and the Department of Urban Roads and to help reduce the financial burden in the cuts.

The complain comes at the heat of persistent network challenges customers of network.

He said MTN was committed towards ensuring backup routes to ensure uninterrupted services for customers.

He said to this end, he said 28 kilometres of telecommunication cables had been laid across the Central region this year alone to improve access and services.

He stated that considering the immense role the telecommunications infrastructure and its related digitalization sector played on the economy, it remained a national security infrastructure adding that it was critical to consciously protect the cables at all cost.

Promoting digital solutions

The Chief Corporate Service and Sustainability Manager of MTN, Adwoa Wiafe, said MTN was committed to promoting digital solutions to better the lives of customers and expand the economy and accelerate Africa's progress.

She emphasised MTN’s commitment to Ghana’s economic development, adding that the company paid about GH₵5.9 million in taxes in 2023 alone.

She said the company in the coming years would leverage on artificial intelligence to transform customer services while promoting sustainability framework and climate actions.

Ms Wiafe said MTN would also work towards promoting, health education and economic empowerment through the MTN Foundation.

The Area Sales Manager, David Woasey said the company would continue to put in place measures to ensure mobile money transactions were safe.