Ghana's telecommunications industry now records more than 8,000 fibre optic cable cuts each year. This sharp rise places increasing financial and operational strain on network operators across the country. The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications reports this figure is a significant jump from about 400 cases annually during the early stages of network deployment.
This surge in fibre cuts forces telecom companies to redirect resources from expanding their networks and improving services. They must instead use these funds for repair and maintenance. Consumers and businesses rely heavily on digital connectivity, making the network instability and service unreliability a major threat to their daily operations. Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, CEO of the Chamber, stated, “We are experiencing over 8,000 cuts per annum… resources that could have been used to ensure new rollouts are instead used to meet quality obligations by repairing those fibre cuts.”
This problem fits into Ghana's broader economic story of rapid digital transformation. Internet penetration in Ghana has grown from about 4% to over 70%, greatly improving digital access. However, this growth has also left crucial infrastructure more exposed to accidental damage. The majority of these damages occur during road construction and other civil works. This trend highlights the need for coordinating infrastructure development with the safeguarding of essential digital backbone.
The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications is pushing for a “dig once” policy to tackle this issue. This policy would require the installation of fibre ducts during major road construction projects. These ducts would create protected underground pathways for fibre cables, reducing the risk of damage. Ms. Owusu-Ankomah believes resolving this problem is vital for maintaining network quality and supporting Ghana’s future digital expansion. She stated this issue, “has been a plague of the industry for quite a while… we believe Ghana has matured enough to put a stop to it. That is why the ‘dig once’ policy needs to come to life this year.”
The implementation of a “dig once” policy is now undergoing discussions at Cabinet level, showcasing its strategic importance. Government support will be crucial to speed up its adoption and enforcement. This policy could reduce the substantial repair costs borne by telecom companies, potentially freeing up GHS millions for network upgrades and expansion. Without this decisive intervention, ongoing fibre cuts could continue to undermine service delivery. This will also slow the pace of digital transformation across Ghana, affecting economic productivity and innovation.
Market participants and decision-makers will closely monitor the progress of the “dig once” policy. Its adoption could significantly impact operational expenditures for telecom firms and improve network resilience. A more stable and reliable digital infrastructure will benefit various sectors, from e-commerce to education, driving further economic growth in Ghana.