Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria

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In the wake of the recent cable cut affecting undersea fiber optics along the coasts of Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal, telecommunications operators in Nigeria have vowed to restore voice and data services to 100% functionality by today, as confirmed by the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, in an exclusive interview on Monday. This development comes after last Thursday’s disruption, which impacted broadband Internet connectivity to Nigeria and several West African countries, leading to operational downsizing for banks, financial institutions, telecom firms, and allied industries.

The affected undersea cable systems, including the West African Cable System and African Coast to Europe, experienced faults, while SAT3 and MainOne reported downtime due to the cable cut. Over the weekend, telecom companies, banks, and financial institutions resorted to rerouting their traffic through alternative service providers to alleviate the disruption’s impact. While some providers have managed to restore services gradually, others are still in the process of migration, resulting in ongoing delays and congestion.

As of Monday, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) announced that services had been restored to approximately 90% of their peak utilization capacities, with operators leveraging recovery capacity from unaffected submarine cables. Mobile Network Operators assured the commission of optimal data and voice services pending full repairs of the undersea cables, highlighting the activation of alternative connectivity to normalize the situation.

Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria(ALTON) Chairman Confident in Service Restoration by Tuesday; Minister Calls for Global Action as MainOne Faces Extended Repair Timeline

A picture of the telecommunication cable

The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria, ALTON Chairman Adebayo expressed confidence in the complete restoration of services by Tuesday, citing substantial efforts to minimize the disruption’s effects. He emphasized the utilization of alternate routes by unaffected operators, showcasing resilience in network planning amidst challenges.

While all telcos operating in Nigeria were impacted to varying degrees, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, disclosed plans for global collaboration to enhance the protection of undersea cables. Tijani underscored the importance of reviewing international laws and forging partnerships with regional and global bodies to safeguard this critical infrastructure, acknowledging the swift resolution efforts led by NCC, Globacom, West Indian Ocean Cable Company, MTN, and MainOne.

However, MainOne, a key cable company relied upon by Nigerian banks for Internet services, anticipates a longer repair process of up to five weeks for its damaged submarine cable. The firm disclosed its maintenance agreement with Atlantic Cable Maintenance and Repair Agreement for repair services, involving inspection, testing, and repositioning of the cable to ensure optimal functionality.