Onwubuke Melvin
Following a recent internet outage that affected the region, the Federal Government has called on West African countries to work together in order to protect common telecommunications infrastructure.
This was disclosed by the Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC Aminu Maida, during the 21st West Africa Telecommunications Regulatory Assembly Annual General Meeting held in Freetown, Sierra Leone, weekend.
This was contained in a statement released on Sunday evening by the Director, Public Affairs, Reuben Muoka, according to The Punch.
The West and Central African countries were hit by a major Internet outage on March 14th that resulted in multiple submarine cable failures, which led to widespread disruption of internet services including banking activities.
The Executive Vice Chairman’s message was delivered at the WATRA AGM by the Deputy Director, Public Affairs of the Commission, Nnenna Ukoha.
He explained that the recent submarine cable cuts that resulted in nationwide outages on multiple networks in 12 African countries have raised the urgent need for the subregion to establish a mechanism to protect itself from damage to submarine infrastructure and its attendant impact on the subregion.
Maida said that, according to a report by Cloudflare, an IT service management company, some six countries including four West African states were still experiencing blackouts because of the submarine cable cut.
“Securing telecom infrastructure is paramount for fostering foreign direct investment and enhancing investor confidence in the West African sub-region. The reliability and resilience of telecommunications networks are crucial factors that investors consider when evaluating regional opportunities.
“By ensuring the security of these vital assets, we can attract more investment, spur economic growth, and enhance our competitiveness on the global stage.
“A secure telecoms infrastructure not only facilitates efficient communication and connectivity but also signals a commitment to safeguarding critical assets essential for business operations. This assurance can significantly boost investor confidence and create a conducive environment for sustainable economic development,” he expounded.
According to him, “the impact of events like cable cuts highlights the need for a coordinated, multilateral approach to protecting shared infrastructure across our member nations.”
Hence, Maida proposed “the urgent need to set up a framework for joint monitoring, risk mitigation, and emergency response procedures for the submarine cables that pass through the sub-region.”
