Airtel Nigeria has sounded the alarm over a troubling rise in fibre cuts, urging all stakeholders to take immediate action to safeguard telecommunications infrastructure. The telecom giant has recorded an average of 43 fibre cuts daily on its network, leading to significant service disruptions and broader implications for Nigeria’s digital economy.
Femi Adeniran, Airtel’s Director of Corporate Communications and CSR, revealed that the company had experienced 7,742 fibre cuts in the past six months alone. He identified vandalism, unregulated construction activities, and poor coordination among stakeholders as the primary causes of these disruptions.
“Fibre cuts have become an epidemic in the Nigerian telecom industry,” Adeniran stated. “These disruptions not only inconvenience customers but also hinder businesses, delay government operations, and jeopardize public safety, particularly in emergencies.”
The Role of Telecommunications as Critical Infrastructure
Adeniran stressed that telecommunications infrastructure is vital to the Nigerian economy, far beyond facilitating calls and internet browsing. He highlighted its importance in powering essential sectors such as healthcare, education, banking, and public safety.
“In today’s digital age, our telecom networks are as essential as roads, bridges, and airports,” he explained. “Imagine waking up one morning with no internet, no mobile network, and no access to emergency services—all because a single fibre cable was carelessly damaged during construction. Unfortunately, this is a daily reality in Nigeria, threatening our digital economy and undermining national security.”
Telecom operators across the country face frequent fibre cuts, disrupting services for millions of Nigerians. Airtel alone reports an alarming 43 incidents daily, reflecting the scale of the problem.
A Call for Immediate Action
To address this escalating crisis, Adeniran called on various stakeholders, including government agencies, security forces, construction firms, telecom operators, media outlets, and civil society organizations, to collaborate in protecting Nigeria’s telecom infrastructure. While the federal government has designated telecommunications assets as critical national infrastructure, Adeniran emphasized the need to move from policy declarations to actionable solutions.
He outlined several key recommendations to mitigate fibre cuts:
- Stricter Enforcement and Coordination: Regulatory bodies and security agencies should impose harsher penalties for fibre damage and establish platforms to ensure effective coordination between construction companies and telecom operators.
- Regulating Construction Activities: Construction firms must be closely monitored to ensure they treat telecom assets with the same importance as other utility infrastructure.
- Streamlining Right-of-Way (RoW) Processes: Simplifying the RoW approval process would allow operators to bury cables securely and collaborate with local governments to protect infrastructure.
- Adopting Advanced Technologies: Utilizing tools like geospatial mapping and real-time monitoring systems can help identify high-risk zones and enable faster responses to incidents.
- Media Support for Awareness Campaigns: The media plays a critical role in educating the public on the importance of telecom infrastructure. Targeted campaigns should highlight the severe consequences of fibre cuts and encourage collective responsibility for protecting these assets.
Background on Fibre Cuts and Government Action
In August 2024, President Bola Tinubu issued an official gazette declaring telecom infrastructure as critical national information infrastructure, making it a criminal offense to intentionally destroy such assets.
Dr. Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, described the Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order, 2024 as a significant step toward securing investments in Nigeria’s ICT sector.
However, this was not the first time such measures had been announced. In 2020, former President Muhammadu Buhari issued a similar directive under the guidance of then-Minister of Communications, Dr. Isa Pantami. Despite these declarations, fibre cuts and vandalism have persisted, highlighting the need for more robust enforcement and stakeholder collaboration.
Securing the Future of Telecom Infrastructure
The recurring problem of fibre cuts poses a serious threat to Nigeria’s telecommunications sector, affecting consumers, businesses, and critical government functions. Adeniran underscored that the protection of telecom infrastructure is a shared responsibility requiring collective effort.
“Telecom infrastructure is the backbone of our digital economy and a key driver of national development,” he said. “Protecting it is not just the duty of telecom operators but a responsibility that impacts every Nigerian.”
By implementing stricter enforcement, adopting advanced technologies, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, Nigeria can reduce fibre cuts and ensure the resilience of its telecom infrastructure. This will not only enhance connectivity but also strengthen the country’s digital economy and national security.