[ICYMI] Lagos-Calabar highway: Telcos express concerns over threats to cables

Following Multichoice’s recent announcement of a three-day technical downtime, concerns have been raised by telecommunication companies over potential connectivity disruptions as construction progresses on the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

While acknowledging the anticipated impact of the ongoing construction project on their uplink facilities, telecommunication firms emphasized the critical role of telecommunication services and the potential effects of anticipated technical disruptions.

The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway corridor serves as a vital landing point for multiple submarine cables connecting Nigeria to Europe. These cables, including the West Africa Cable System (WACS), MainOne, Glo1, ACE, and NCSCS, play a crucial role in international communications and data transmission in the country.

The Federal Executive Council approved Phase One of the ambitious 700-km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project in February, entrusting the task to Hitech Construction Company Limited. The project aims to connect Lagos to Cross River, passing through several coastal states before culminating in Cross River.

Meanwhile, the demolition of numerous properties and recreational centers in Lagos has been underway to expedite the construction of the highway.

In response to these developments, telecommunication companies emphasized the importance of stakeholder consultations with the Ministry of Works to address potential risks and implement robust mitigation measures. However, the Ministry of Works has yet to engage with telcos on environmental impact assessment.

Gbenga Adebayo, Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), expressed concern over the lack of consultation and urged caution to prevent damage to critical national infrastructure. He emphasized the economic consequences of any disruption, highlighting the need for carefulness during construction activities.

In March, service disruptions caused by cuts to undersea cables supplying broadband Internet connectivity to Nigeria and West African countries forced many businesses to scale down operations. Experts estimate collective repair costs of about $8 million for the affected digital infrastructure companies.

As construction progresses on the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, telecommunication firms are calling for dialogue with relevant authorities to ensure the protection of critical infrastructure and minimize the risk of connectivity disruptions.