MTN Nigeria has recorded further degeneration in its services which has made it difficult for the network’s subscribers to make calls. Even when some calls go through after several unsuccessful attempts, the caller often fails to hear the recipient.
This is further complicated by the network’s continuous charging of callers for the unsuccessful calls.
Problems have also extended to the network’s data services as Nigerians using MTN internet modems now find it difficult connecting to the internet.
Wale Goodluck, MTN’s Corporate Services Executive, admitted the challenges subscribers are facing on the network, but blamed saboteurs for the disruption.
He said MTN has recorded criminal damage to its fibre optic cable network in more than seven locations across Nigeria.
"All the fibre cuts happened within five minute intervals, leading the company's officials to suspect a coordinated attack. MTN’s team of engineers is currently battling to restore service quality to acceptable levels following the massive attack on the company's extensive fibre network,” Goodluck said.
Areas where the network’s optic fibre cables were severed are regions between Port Harcourt and Eket, Kano and Zaria, Abuja and Akwanga, Asaba and Owerri, Ahoada and Port Harcourt, Benin and Owo and finally, between Ikeji and Owo.
"To put matters in perspective, MTN on average suffers more than 70 fibre cuts in various locations across the country every month, but this is most unusual in terms of the spread and the coordination. It is almost as if it is a deliberate act targeted at disrupting service delivery," Mr. Goodluck said.