The Director General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Dr. Joe Anokye, says he anticipates that mobile network operators (MNOs) will provide compensation to subscribers for any losses incurred during the recent internet disruptions.
He mentioned that discussions were already underway regarding this matter.
However, Dr. Anokye noted that the decision ultimately rests with the MNOs as independent entities but urged them to prioritise the interests of their subscribers.
He stated that the MNOs must take action in the best interest of their customers before the NCA could consider any further steps.
“That discussion is currently ongoing. In fact, the message that I received from Telecel this morning said they were looking into that. So, I expect that the MNOs will have to, but each MNO is independent.”
“They will have to make that decision. And then NCA will look at their decision, hopefully. It will depend on the decision that can come from them,” Dr. Anokye said in an interview with Citi FM on March 19.
Since Thursday, March 14, 2024, Mobile Network Operations in Ghana have experienced disruptions due to cuts in undersea fibre optic cables, crucial for internet connectivity.
Consequently, numerous Ghanaians have been left without access to the internet.
All online services, including ride-hailing, payment systems, banking, and other forms of trading, have been badly hit.
Consequently, the Minister of Communication and Digitalization, Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, was in Parliament to brief the House about measures that will enhance internet connectivity progressively until full restoration.
The National Communications Authority (NCA) announced that it will require a minimum of five weeks to fully restore data services nationwide.
This follows a meeting with top management from subsea cable landing service providers and mobile network operators (MNOs) such as AT, MTN, and Telecel.
During the meeting, the subsea cable landing service providers told the authority that they had remotely identified the approximate locations of the damage and had made preparations to dispatch repair vessels to the location for physical assessment and restoration.