A leading telecommunication network provider, Telecel Ghana, has held a one-day media engagement session for some selected journalists and media practitioners across the Western and Central Region of Ghana.

The engagement which was led by Telecel Ghana’s External Affairs Director, Komla Buami, offered Telecel Ghana an opportunity to engaged media editors on the company’s network challenges, the impact of fibre cuts on connectivity, and ongoing efforts to expand its network infrastructure across the country.

According to him, the increasing number of fibre cuts, largely associated with ongoing road expansion projects, had become a major challenge for telecommunications operators and is contributing to recurrent connectivity problems in some communities.

He explained that although road construction and expansion were necessary for the development of communities, damage to telecommunications fibre infrastructure during such projects could disconnect large numbers of people from internet services.

“A number of communities may have daily or recurrent challenges, not because our footprint is not strong, but just because somebody has cut a fibre,” Mr. Buami said.

He called on contractors, road workers and others involved in construction activities to take greater care to protect fibre infrastructure across the country, noting that a single fibre cut could affect a large population and disrupt access to internet services.

Mr. Buami further disclosed that Telecel Ghana is undertaking significant network upgrade and expansion programme, noting that the company had focused on strengthening its network over the past two years. He added that the investment had contributed to growth in subscriber numbers and its Telecel Cash mobile money platform.

Mr. Buami mentioned that the Telecel had increased its investment this year to further expand its network, particularly in areas where there was limited coverage or congestion resulting from increased demand.

“It is for us as a business to see this opportunity and continue to invest to ensure that areas where we may not be present at the moment, or areas where there’s a lot of congestion as a result of a high interest in our network, we are able to improve that,” he stated.

Mr. Buami also called for stronger collaboration between Telecel Ghana and the media, particularly in educating the public on telecommunications infrastructure and the consequences of activities such as accidental fibre cuts.

He said the media has an important role to play in helping the public understand how telecommunications networks operate and why certain incidents and human activities, including fibre damage, can result in service disruptions.

“We need the media as partners in educating the public. There is a need for people to understand that when a fibre is cut, it does not only affect Telecel; it affects the businesses, institutions and individuals who depend on that connectivity,” he stated.

The engagement proves Telecel Ghana’s commitment to maintaining an open relationship with the media while working with stakeholders to improve understanding of the challenges facing the telecommunications industry and strengthen connectivity for customers nationwide.