Nigeria telecommunications giant, MTN, says it lost network availability in over 1000 base stations across the country due to damage to its fibre infrastructure.
The telecom company, in a statement released on Wednesday, said the development disrupted services and created customer dissatisfaction in the South East, particularly Onitsha, Port Harcourt; Kano; Abuja; Kaduna and Ibadan.
According to the statement, MTN has witnessed an unprecedented rise in criminal damage to its fibre optic network across the country.
Placing the rate of willful damage to its fibre optic network by criminal elements at 25 per cent, MTN said: “On average, MTN suffers more than seventy fibre cuts in different locations across Nigeria on a monthly basis. Typically, 42% are inadvertently caused by poor road construction practices, 25% from wilful damage by criminal elements, and 33% by other causes, suspected to be sabotage.”
“In the last few days we have lost network availability in over 1000 base stations cumulatively across the network. This has affected services predominantly in the South East, particularly Onitsha and Port Harcourt, and also other areas such as Kano, Abuja, Kaduna and Ibadan”
Restating its commitment to driving the country’s socio-economic development through the provision of world standard telecommunication and ICT services, MTN appealed to members of the public to report any suspicious activity around telecommunication installations.
“The relevant security agencies and our Regulator, the NCC are aware and have always extended their full support but we are now constrained to appeal to members of the public to further assist by reporting any suspicious activity around telecommunications installations which are critical national infrastructure,” the statement read.
“By so doing, you will play your part in protecting your right to good services and benefit from the dividends of the ICT Revolution.”
Source: businessdayonline.com