Telecom Operators Sound Alarm: N5 Billion Lost to 2,500 Fibre Cuts in Lagos

By: Manoah kikekon 

Telecommunications mast [Photo credit: Guardian]

Telecommunications operators have raised concerns after recording 2,500 fibre cuts in Lagos in 2024, resulting in an estimated N5 billion ($6.25 million) in losses. 

The alarming figures were disclosed during the seventh edition of the Policy Implementation Assisted Forum (PIAFo) held in Lagos over the weekend.  

The operators identified high-risk areas such as Ikeja, Lekki, and Victoria Island, where road expansions and private development projects frequently disrupt connectivity. They emphasized that the recurring incidents underscore the urgent need for stronger preventive measures, legal enforcement, and coordinated infrastructure planning.  

Speaking at the forum, themed “Strengthening Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure through Proactive Implementation and Strategic Coordination,” Jude Ighomena, a senior official at Broadbased Communications, highlighted the persistent nature of fibre cuts despite existing regulations.  

“Offenders must be held accountable,” Ighomena stated, advocating for stricter enforcement and the implementation of preventive strategies to safeguard telecom investments. He listed the primary causes of fibre cuts as construction and urban development, illegal excavation, vandalism, and overlapping regulatory authorities.  

Ighomena outlined the significant impacts of fibre cuts, including economic losses, service disruptions, consumer frustration, and security concerns. He stressed the need for a robust compensation and redress framework to address the issue.  

“Policy reforms should mandate stricter penalties for unauthorised fibre disruptions, ensuring offenders are held accountable. Stakeholder engagement is critical, bringing together government agencies, telecom operators, and civil society to create enforceable policies and improve coordination,” he added.  

Earlier at the forum, telecom operators proposed a review of the current national tariff plans, suggesting a shift to a regional tariff regime. This new approach would factor in the specific challenges faced in each state, ensuring that states with better ease of doing business are compensated, while those creating operational difficulties pay higher service costs.  

Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), explained that some states are particularly challenging to operate in, and these difficulties should be reflected in the cost of operations.  

“We may have to reconsider the issue of our national tariffs and look at regional tariffs. If you are aware that the cost of doing business is high in a particular state and it’s impossible to negotiate with them, factor the cost of deployment in those areas into the cost of providing services,” Adebayo said.