Telcom operators seek urgent action against network sabotage
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has called for stronger protection of telecommunications infrastructure. It urged the government and communities to curb vandalism and safeguard critical assets.
The Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) has called for stronger protection of telecommunications infrastructure.
It urged the government and communities to curb vandalism and safeguard critical assets.
ALTON warned that unless urgent steps are taken to address sabotage and improve security, service disruptions such as dropped calls will persist despite significant investments in the sector.
Its Chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, blamed widespread network disruptions across the country on persistent infrastructure sabotage.
He dismissed claims that operators deliberately provide poor-quality services, emphasising that the network’s interconnected nature makes it vulnerable to isolated incidents.
Adebayo, who spoke while responding to concerns about frequent “dead calls” raised by broadcast journalist Jimi Disu, said telecommunications operators were grappling with challenges largely beyond their control.
He identified fibre-optic cuts during road construction and diesel theft at base stations as major causes of service failures.
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According to him, the scale of investment required to maintain telecommunications infrastructure has forced operators to adopt cost-saving measures such as co-location, where multiple service providers share towers and masts.
“At the end of the day, we have one national network; so the problems and the issues are common to all of us, and the solution should be collective,” he said.
The ALTON chairman also highlighted the security risks facing technical personnel, noting that in many parts of the country, engineers are unable to attend to network faults after 6:00 p.m. due to the threat of attacks by vandals.
“We have territories that we cannot access because of issues of security,” he said.
He cited instances where operators face additional burdens, including paying local groups to facilitate access to sites for diesel supply, even in areas experiencing prolonged power outages.
Adebayo further explained that the challenges confronting telecom operators mirror broader systemic issues in the country, stressing that disruptions to a single fibre link or base station can have a ripple effect on services nationwide.
