DEGLORY GH MEDIA

Ghana's telecommunications industry has been severely impacted in 2024, with more than 10,000 incidents of fibre optic cable cuts reported between January and November. These damages have resulted in widespread service disruptions and over $17 million in repair costs.

According to the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, the primary causes of these fibre cuts include:

• Road construction activities (20.68%)
• Theft and vandalism (13.98%)
• Works by private developers (13.40%)
• Core cable issues (11.81%)
• Damage to aerial networks and poles (11.61%)
• Drain construction (9.51%)
• Other causes such as bushfires, farming, floods (7.85%), mining operations (5.93%), and activities by public utilities.

In response, the Chamber has launched a nationwide awareness campaign titled "Save Our Fibre" to educate the public on the importance of protecting telecom infrastructure and to hold responsible parties accountable. The campaign stresses that such disruptions not only impact internet and voice services but also affect national productivity and emergency services.

The Chamber is also urging stronger legal enforcement and collaboration with the police and judiciary to curb the rising cases of cable destruction and ensure offenders face appropriate consequences.

Stakeholders are being called upon to prioritize coordination with telecom companies during construction and excavation to prevent further damage and ensure stable connectivity across the country.