Ghana’s Telecommunications Chamber warns of fibre cuts threatening Ghana’s internet connectivity
The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has raised alarms over the rising number of fibre optic cable cuts, warning that the situation threatens the stability of the country’s national fibre infrastructure. Fibre, a critical component for fast and reliable data transmission, supports high bandwidth applications and is essential for modern network operations.The Chamber has called on the government and stakeholders to take immediate action, stressing that fibre cuts are causing network disruptions and affecting the quality of service.
In response, the Chamber launched a nationwide campaign titled “Save Our Fibre” to raise awareness about the importance of preserving fibre infrastructure. The campaign seeks to educate the public and stakeholders on the critical role fibre plays in Ghana’s telecommunications, supporting internet connectivity, communication services, and the broader digital economy.
Louis Bobbie Osei, Regulatory and Research Manager of the Chamber, issued a statement emphasizing the urgent need for collaborative action to mitigate the increasing risks to Ghana’s fibre backbone. The Chamber revealed that there were 5,133 fibre cuts in the first half of 2024 alone, costing the telecom industry GHS 118 million in repairs. These funds, which could have been used for network expansion, were diverted to restore damaged infrastructure.
“Funds that we could have used to expand and enhance the existing services had to be reallocated to repair these damaged fibre networks,” the Chamber noted. However, frequent disruptions are degrading service quality, leading to poor voice calls, slow internet, and outages across the country.
The Chamber has been actively engaging with the Ministry of Roads and Highways, contractors, and utility companies to protect telecom infrastructure during construction activities. Despite these efforts, some entities remain negligent, causing repeated damage to vital telecom lines.
In response, the Chamber is seeking stronger measures, including legal action and collaboration with the police and judiciary to hold responsible parties accountable. The “Save Our Fibre” campaign will also use social media to inform the public about ongoing efforts to address the fibre cuts and improve telecom services.
“We will continue to work tirelessly with all stakeholders to protect our nation’s telecom infrastructure and hold accountable those who undermine it,” the Chamber’s statement concluded.
