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By Chinenye Anuforo
The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) at the weekend, held a breakfast meeting in Lagos, to address the recurring issue of disruptions to fiber optic cables.
The meeting, themed “The Direct and Indirect Cause and Impact of Metro, Terrestrial and Submarine Fibre disruptions (Cuts) -Short, Medium and Long Term Sustainable Solutions,” brought together industry leaders and government representatives to brainstorm solutions.
ATCON president, Tony Emoekpere, highlighted the negative impact of these disruptions, stating they cause significant financial strain for telecom operators and hinder the growth of the sector. He attributed the disruptions to several factors, including negligence by excavation operators, lack of awareness about underground fibre infrastructure, and poor coordination between government agencies.
He emphasised the importance of finding solutions to protect these critical cables and congratulated the Minister of Communications for approving a new 96,000km fiber optic line project.
ATCON also advocated for building ducts for fibre optic cables during new road constructions and holding construction companies liable for fibre network damage. They emphasised the importance of implementing the Nigerian national broadband plan provision for NCC to assign desk officers in each state to manage fibre networks and minimise disruptions.
The panel discussion focused on the causes of fiber cuts, which include:
Accidental damage by government or private contractors during construction. Deliberate man-made cuts, poor planning, design flaws and natural disasters
Lekan Balogun of NetAccess proposed several solutions, including:
“Education and Collaboration: ATCON members should collaborate with the government and developers to raise awareness about the importance of protecting fiber cables.
Improved Cable Protection: Explore using stronger materials like metal instead of plastic for cable coating.
Submarine Cable Risk Mitigation: Collaborate with oil, pipeline, and dredging companies, as well as NIMASA (Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency) to identify cable locations and minimize risks from fishing activities and coastal construction.”
Folu Aderigbe from Rack Centre emphasized the need for better collaboration between telecom companies and the government. He urged the government to address longstanding challenges faced by the telecoms sector and implement stricter policies with penalties for damaging fiber optic cables.
The meeting concluded with several key resolutions:
Collaboration: Increased collaboration between telecom operators, government agencies, developers, and road contractors to prevent accidental cable cuts.
Compensation: Compensation for telecom companies when their cables are damaged.
Training and Awareness: Training programs and awareness campaigns to educate all stakeholders on the importance of protecting fiber optic cables.
Critical National Infrastructure: Declare telecoms infrastructure as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) to ensure its protection.
Skilled Workforce: Invest in training skilled personnel for laying and maintaining fiber optic cables.
Policy Development: Government policies on cost implications, penalties, and compensation for damaged telecom facilities.
“Dig Once” Policy: Implement a “Dig Once Policy” during construction projects to avoid damaging existing cables.
Database of Approvals: Create a clear database of government agencies responsible for approving road construction projects.
ATCON Action Plan: ATCON to develop a clear action plan with task responsibilities and regular status updates for members.
Member Control: ATCON to strengthen control and communication with its members, particularly field workers.
Collaboration and Advocacy: ATCON to promote collaboration among members and channel their challenges to relevant government agencies for collective action.
Strategic Focus: ATCON to adopt a more strategic approach in addressing industry challenges.
