MTN Reacts As Subscribers Face Network Outage: “Fibre Cuts Affecting Voice, Data Services”

MTN Reacts As Subscribers Face Network Outage: “Fibre Cuts Affecting Voice, Data Services”

  • MTN subscribers on Wednesday, February 28, experienced call service and network glitches in Nigeria
  • Several users found it impossible to make or receive calls, while others were not able to make use of their internet through the network
  • MTN attributed the development to a “major service outage caused by multiple fibre cuts”

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

Telecommunications company MTN Nigeria has explained that the network outage experienced by its subscribers for most of Wednesday, February 28, was caused by “multiple fibre cuts.”

MTN Telecommunications company and its subscribers
MTN gives an update on service disruption in Nigeria. Photo credit: @MTNNG, Wirestock/GettyImages
Source: Getty Images

MTN boasts 87,038,768 subscribers as of December 2023, according to data by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), representing 38.79% of the total market share, the highest in the country by any licensed Mobile Network Operator (MNO).

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The 87 million subscribers of the MNO experienced difficulty making and receiving calls for hours, fuelling rumours that the NCC had carried out its threat that all telcos bar subscribers not linked to the National Identification Numbers (NIN), with February 28, 2024, as the deadline.

The executive vice chairman of NCC, Aminu Maida, stated this while speaking at the NCC’s 'special day' at the 45th Kaduna International Trade Fair on Wednesday, February 28.

Maida, who was represented by Reuben Mouka, NCC’s director of public affairs, noted that as a matter of critical national security, telecom consumers must link their NIN to their SIM.

Many subscribers were stranded, with some visiting MTN offices nearest them to get explanations.

However, in a post on its X account (formerly Twitter), MTN attributed the situation to “multiple fibre cuts.”

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“Dear customer”: MTN explains to subscribers why voice and call service stopped working

MTN Tweeted:

"Important information! ️
"We are aware that there has been a service outage.
"We are working to ensure that this is resolved.
"We truly regret any inconvenience.
#StayConnected."

SIM-NIN linkage: Court rules on NCC's order

Legit.ng earlier reported that Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the federal high court in Lagos stopped telecommunication companies in Nigeria from deactivating or barring mobile lines or SIM cards not linked to the owner's NIN.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa ruled on a suit filed by a legal practitioner, Olukoya Ogungbeje.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Esther Odili avatar

Esther Odili (Politics and Current Affairs Editor) Esther Odili is a journalist and a Politics/Current Affairs Editor at Legit.ng with 6+ years of experience. She Holds OND and HND in Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institue of Journalism (NIJ), where she was recognized as the best student in print journalism in 2018. Before joining Legit.ng, Esther has worked with other reputable media houses, such as the New Telegraph newspaper and Galaxy Television. In 2024, Esther obtained a certificate in advanced digital reporting from the Google News Initiative. Email: esther.odili@corp.legit.ng.

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