MTN Records Thousands of Fibre Cuts in 2025

MTN Nigeria is facing a wave of disruptions after more than 5,400 fibre optic cable cuts were recorded in just the first seven months of 2025. The company says the damage is weakening service quality and slowing down the nation’s digital growth.

Lakinbofa Goodluck, MTN’s public relations manager, revealed the figure at the 10th New Media Conference in Lagos. He explained that the majority of incidents were linked to road construction and vandalism. July alone saw 760 cases. “When the network goes bad, it’s often because someone has cut a cable,” he told media professionals and policymakers.

Costly Damage to Nigeria’s Telecom Growth

The scale of the damage, according to MTN, is more than just a technical setback. It is also raising operating costs and slowing economic activity across the country. With over 80 million subscribers, the company has invested around ₦1 trillion (about $600 million) to expand 4G and 5G coverage. However, constant repairs are draining resources meant for new infrastructure.

Goodluck urged government representatives at the conference to play a stronger role. He noted that vandalism should be treated with stricter laws and better enforcement. He also called for stronger cooperation between sectors and community-led awareness campaigns to help protect vital telecom facilities. “We make money when people browse and make calls,” he said. “But how do we earn more if users keep complaining about poor service?”

MTN is not the only company battling this problem. Other operators, including Airtel Nigeria, the country’s second-largest network, have reported similar struggles. Analysts warn that without urgent solutions, frequent fibre cuts will continue to erode confidence in Nigeria’s telecom sector, slowing its transformation goals and weakening digital inclusion.