MTN Nigeria Grapples with Surge in Fibre Optic Cable Cuts
MTN Nigeria is facing significant challenges in maintaining its network infrastructure, having recorded over 5,400 fibre optic cable cuts between January and July 2025. These disruptions, which directly impact service delivery across Nigeria, are primarily attributed to the dual threats of road construction and vandalism. The ongoing issues highlight the precariousness of telecom infrastructure in Nigeria, necessitating constant repair, rebuilding, and rerouting to maintain network stability.
Vandalism and Road Construction Hampering Connectivity
The data reveals a consistently high rate of incidents, with 760 fibre cuts documented in July alone, contributing to the cumulative total of 5,478 incidents over the seven-month period. The month of June proved particularly challenging, witnessing the highest number of cuts at 1,016. Vandalism caused a major outage scheduled for repair on August 24th, affecting services at 101 sites across 15 local government areas in Kano, Adamawa, and Borno States. MTN, in a recent newsletter, acknowledged these challenges, stating that vandalism necessitates continuous efforts to rebuild and restore infrastructure. Road construction, however, emerges as the dominant cause, accounting for more than 60% of all fibre cuts.
In response to these challenges, MTN Nigeria has apologized to affected customers. The company is likely investing in enhanced security measures and collaborative efforts with state governments to mitigate the impact of these incidents.
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