The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has expressed serious concern over the rising number of fibre cuts across the country, warning that the situation is placing significant pressure on telecommunications operators and threatening network reliability.
Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, revealed that telecom companies are currently recording more than 8,000 fibre cuts annually, a sharp increase from the nearly 400 cases experienced during the early stages of fibre network deployment in Ghana.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the Chamber’s 15th anniversary soft launch, Ms. Owusu-Ankomah described the growing trend as one of the biggest operational challenges facing the telecommunications industry.
According to her, the persistent destruction of fibre infrastructure is forcing telecom operators to redirect critical investment resources away from network expansion and innovation into repair and maintenance works.
“We are experiencing over 8,000 cuts per annum when it comes to fibre cuts, which is increasingly a strain on our operators’ resources,” she stated.
“Resources and investment that could have been used to ensure new rollouts, you find them being used to ensure they are meeting their quality obligations by repairing those fibre cuts,” she added.
Ms. Owusu-Ankomah explained that the rapid growth of telecommunications infrastructure and internet connectivity across Ghana has contributed to the increasing exposure of fibre installations to damage during construction and road works.
She noted that Ghana’s internet penetration rate has grown significantly over the years, rising from about four per cent in the early stages of the industry to more than 70 per cent currently, making telecommunications infrastructure more widespread and vulnerable.
Despite the growth in digital connectivity, she stressed that fibre cuts continue to undermine service quality, disrupt communication services, and increase operational costs for network providers.
According to the Chamber, the recurring cuts frequently lead to internet disruptions, slow network performance, and interruptions in voice and data services experienced by customers across the country.
Ms. Owusu-Ankomah stated that the Chamber intends to use its 15th anniversary celebrations to push for practical solutions aimed at ending the long-standing problem.
“So we want to make sure that the 15-year journey counts for something, and so one of the key milestones, as I said, we want to stop the conversation around fibre cuts and get more progressive as a country,” she remarked.
To tackle the challenge, the Chamber is advocating the implementation of the proposed “dig once” policy, which would require the installation of fibre duct infrastructure as part of major road construction and infrastructure projects nationwide.
Under the proposed policy, underground ducts would be constructed alongside roads to safely house fibre cables, reducing the risk of accidental damage during excavation and construction activities.
Industry players believe the policy would significantly improve network resilience, reduce service disruptions, and lower maintenance costs for telecom operators.
The Chamber says it is engaging government to accelerate the implementation of the policy, noting that discussions on the proposal have already reached Cabinet level.
Ms. Owusu-Ankomah stressed that resolving the fibre cut problem is critical to sustaining Ghana’s digital transformation agenda and supporting future technological growth.
“This has been a plague of the industry for quite a while and we believe Ghana has matured enough to put a stop to it. That is why for us the ‘dig once’ policy needs to come to life this year,” she added.
Source: Wesleyannews.com
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