The continuous damage of the underground fibre cables has been identified as one of the major challenges hampering the smooth operation of Mobile Telecommunication Network (MTN) Ghana, the Northern Sector Network Manager for MTN, Mr Joseph Kwadwo Addai, has disclosed.
The Northern Sector Network Manager for MTN, who made the disclosure at the Editors’ Forum, organised by MTN in Bolgatanga, the Upper East Regional capital, on Monday, said the company spends about GH₵6,634.88 to repair every single fibre damaged.
Mr Addai stated that the MTN Ghana, Northern Sector Network has so far experienced 822 fibre cable damages this year, and blamed the situation largely on contractors working on roads and other private estate developers, who tamper with the cables without prior knowledge of the company.
He said MTN currently operate about 95 per cent of its backbone traffic to transport backhauling services from cell sites to major switching centres onto underground fibre optic cables.
Mr Addai said this enables the communication giant to meet the increasing traffic demands for digital network services and ensure wider connectivity.
He stated that as a means of addressing the challenge, the company had engaged the Ministry of Roads and Highways, and private contractors to ensure that fibre cables are always identified and relocated.
Mr Addai added that plans were advanced to relocate fibre cables, which were at the risk of being destroyed by heavy rain.
“Strategically, we are in talks with the Ghana Highways Authority, the Departments of Urban Roads, political heads, chiefs among others for them to be aware of our fibre cables underground in their various districts and communities. So in the event where they see activities that can cause damage to our fibre cables, they draw our attention,” he indicated.
Mr Addai appealed to customers to be patient as MTN worked hard to resolve all the challenges confronting the network.
He also asked private developers and road contractors to always inform the MTN about commencement of construction to avert damage to the company’s underground cables.
FROM SAMUEL AKAPULE, BOLGATANGA
