The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications has raised fresh concerns over the rising number of fibre cuts in Ghana, revealing that telecom operators are now recording more than 8,000 fiber cuts annually.
Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, described the development as a major threat to network stability and service delivery across the country.
Speaking during the Chamber’s 15th anniversary soft launch, she explained that the increasing destruction of fiber infrastructure is putting enormous financial pressure on telecom operators. According to her, funds meant for network expansion and service improvement are now being redirected into repair and maintenance works.
She attributed the rise in fibre cuts to the rapid expansion of telecommunications infrastructure over the years, noting that Ghana’s internet penetration has grown from about four percent to more than seventy percent.
“We are experiencing over 8,000 cuts per annum when it comes to fibre cuts, which is increasingly a strain on our operators’ resources,” she stated.
Madam Owusu-Ankomah stressed that the industry wants to move beyond recurring conversations about fibre cuts and focus on strengthening Ghana’s digital future.
To address the challenge, the Chamber is advocating for the implementation of the proposed Dig Once policy, which seeks to make fibre duct infrastructure mandatory in major road construction projects. The policy is expected to allow telecom operators to access protected underground ducts and reduce the frequent destruction of fibre cables.
Meanwhile, the minister for communication, digital technology, and innovations, Samuel Nartey George, says the Dig Once policy could reduce the cost of fibre infrastructure rollout in Ghana by as much as sixty percent.
According to him, the policy will help accelerate broadband expansion while improving access to affordable data services across the country.
