MTN Ghana Confirms Nationwide Internet Disruptions Following Undersea Cable Cut Near Côte d'Ivoire

MTN Ghana, the nation’s leading telecommunications provider, has officially acknowledged significant internet disruptions affecting subscribers across the country. The service degradation, which has left many users struggling with connectivity, has been attributed to a physical breach in undersea cable infrastructure located near Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. This technical failure is not limited to Ghana; the damaged submarine cable serves as a critical data artery for several countries within the West African sub-region, leading to a broader regional impact on digital communications.

In a statement addressing the crisis, MTN noted that the damage to the undersea cable has severely limited the capacity available for international data traffic. This has resulted in slow browsing speeds, intermittent timeouts, and in some cases, a total loss of internet service for millions of mobile and enterprise customers. The company explained that the specific location of the cut near Abidjan makes it a strategic failure point, as that area acts as a primary landing station for major international cable systems connecting Africa to global networks.

The incident highlights the ongoing vulnerability of the region's digital infrastructure. While telecom companies typically have some level of redundancy, the scale of this particular cable cut has overwhelmed existing backup systems. Repairing undersea cables is a complex logistical operation that requires specialized repair vessels equipped with deep-sea submersibles to retrieve and splice the severed fiber-optic lines. Consequently, restoration times can vary depending on the availability of these vessels and the prevailing sea conditions near the Ivorian coast.

As technical teams work toward a resolution, MTN Ghana has assured the public that it is exploring all possible avenues to reroute traffic and stabilize the network. For now, users are advised to expect continued fluctuations in service quality until the physical infrastructure is fully restored. The disruption serves as a stark reminder of the importance of the digital economy in Ghana and the critical need for diversified infrastructure to prevent such widespread outages from paralyzing business and social activities in the future.