InFocus: Understanding impacts of fibre cuts on Nigeria’s telecoms service quality, consumer experience

*The Nigerian Communications Commission underscores the strategic significance of fibre-optic technology as a Critical National Information Infrastructure that should be protected, stating the fibre ‘provides extremely high bandwidth, faster data transmission, and low latency…  and very useful for carrying out businesses, education, banking, healthcare operations, and other human endeavours in the digital economy

Gbenga Kayode | ConsumerConnect

As part of its consumer education and sensitisation programmes and initiatives, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), at differing avenues, has continued to enlighten the broad sections of Nigerians on the need to protect the country’s Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII), including the optic fibre cables.

ConsumerConnect reports the deployment of fibre-optic technology in the telecoms ecosystem, and the entire emerging Nigeria Digital Economy, tends to guarantee stable mobile network quality (QoS) while it promotes consumers’ Quality of Experience (QoE).

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, June 2024, officially gazetted the “Designation and Protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure Order, 2024, embracing optic fibre infrastructure as one of the major communications assets in the economy.

Significance of optic fibre technology in a digital economy, by NCC

As part of its mandate, the Nigerian Communications Commission regulates and promotes the use of optic fibre technology, recognising this infrastructure as the essential backbone for high-speed internet, Broadband services in the country’s digital economy space.

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The NCC’s involvement is predominantly driven by national policies like the National Broadband Plan (2020-2025), which aims to ensure pervasive and affordable Broadband access across Nigeria, according to report.

Highlighting the central importance of fibre-optic technology as the mainstay of the country’s burgeoning digital economy space, and why the infrastructure should be protected, the NCC in a recent piece described fibre optic cables as “the backbone of modern telecommunications” in Nigeria, enabling fast Internet, clear voice calls, and reliable digital services.

The telecoms sector regulatory Commission also explained the concept of fibre-optic technology involves the use of thin strands of glass or plastic (optical fibres) to transmit data.

In a recent piece published in the NCC corporate Web site, the Commission as well explained that unlike the traditional copper cables, fibre “provides extremely high bandwidth, faster data transmission, and low latency (fewer delays in file transfers).”

It equally noted: “This makes it very useful for carrying out businesses, education, banking, healthcare operations, and other human endeavours.”

Description and causes of fibre cuts

According to the Commission, a fibre cut refers to a physical break, bend, or severe damage in optic fibre cables that interrupts the transmission of data.

It noted that since fibre optic networks are extremely sensitive, even small disruptions could cause complete service outages in the telecoms environment in Nigeria.

Depending on the severity and location, a single fibre cut can impact a few users, entire neighborhoods, or even large regions, the Commission noted.

Among several other causes of fibre cuts, the NCC explained that these anomalies could happen due to several reasons, both accidental and intentional.

The telecoms regulator also outlined some of the most common causes, including the following six factors:

1. Construction Activities: Excavation, road works, drilling, and trenching are the leading causes of accidental fibre damage. A single strike from heavy equipment can sever underground fibre cables.
2. Animal Damage: Rodents sometimes chew on fibre cables, especially if they are not properly armoured or buried deep enough in the ground.
3. Weather and Natural Disasters: Floods, landslides, earthquakes, storms, and intense winds can damage aerial or underground fibre.
4. Vandalism and Theft: While many fibre cuts are accidental, some unfortunately happen on purpose.

This involves destroying cables or stealing cables to sell them in the black market, which disrupts internet service for everyone.

5. Aging Infrastructure: Older fibre deployments that were not properly maintained may degrade or break over time.
6. Accidental Human Errors: Mistakes during maintenance, relocation, replacing, or repairing of cables can lead to fibre damage.

How does a fibre cut affect telecoms consumers?

The NCC disclosed when a fibre cable is damaged, the impact on telecoms consumers could be significant in a number of ways. These include:

1. Service Outages: Consumers may lose access to the Internet, phone, and TV services entirely until repairs are completed.
2. Reduced Speeds: If the network reroutes traffic through backup paths, users may experience slower speeds while browsing.
3. Business Downtime: Businesses or enterprises relying on fibre for cloud services, video conferencing, or financial transactions can face operational and financial losses.
4. Mobile Network Degradation: Since mobile towers depend to a large extent on fibre backhaul, a fibre cut can lead to poor call quality, dropped calls, and slower mobile data speeds.
5. Consumer Dissatisfaction: Prolonged or repeated cuts damage trust in Service Providers, leading to frustration and churn.

However, in order to alleviate these extant operational challenges in the digital ecosystem, the Nigerian Communications Commission has assured of increased efforts at collaborating with industry stakeholders to protect the optic fibre infrastructure across the country.

This, the Commission stated, includes raising public awareness, collaborating with state governments, and treating fibre as Critical National Information Infrastructure that must be safeguarded.

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