NCC Gives Fresh Update On Voice, Data Services Affected by Undersea Cable Cuts

NCC has given fresh update on the restoration of voice and data services affected by undersea cable cuts.

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has announced the restoration of voice and data services affected by undersea cable cuts along the coasts of Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal.

VerseNews reports that Rueben Muoka, the NCC Director of Public Affairs, in a Statement on Monday said the services have been restored to approximately 90% of their peak utilization capacities, marking a notable recovery since the disruption on March 14, 2024.

Muoka stated, “Following the disruption on March 14, 2024, which affected data and voice services due to cuts in undersea fibre optics along the coasts of Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal, we are pleased to announce that services have now been restored to approximately 90% of their peak utilization capacities.

”All operators who were impacted by the cuts have taken recovery capacity from submarine cables, which were not impacted by the cuts, their peak utilisation capacities.

“Mobile Network Operators have assured the Commission that data and voice services would operate optimally pending full repairs of the undersea cables as they have managed to activate alternative connectivities to bring back the situation to normalcy.

“We extend our appreciation to telecom consumers for their patience and understanding during the downtime caused by the undersea fibre cuts.”

The NCC expressed gratitude to telecom consumers for their patience and understanding during the downtime caused by the undersea cable cuts.

Since Thursday, telecommunications subscribers and bank users have been stranded due to a subsea cable cut in the Atlantic Ocean offshore Cote D’Ivoire, along the coast of West Africa, which paralyzed digital transactions and internet communications. Mobile network operators like MTN and some banks have attributed the network outage to this subsea cable cut.

MainOne, the submarine cable company, stated that it might take up to two weeks to repair the undersea cable cut. This disruption had disrupted internet services in Nigeria, Ghana, Cote D’Ivoire, Senegal, and other West African and East African countries in the last four days.

However, The company attributed the cut to various factors, including fishing activities, anchoring in shallow waters near the shore, natural hazards such as earthquakes and landslides, and equipment failure.