MTN Ghana Apologises as Undersea Cable Cuts Disrupt Nationwide Internet Services

MTN Ghana has issued a public apology following significant disruptions to internet services caused by cuts to international undersea cables. The telecom giant confirmed that the damage, reportedly occurring off the coast of Abidjan, has affected data connectivity for millions of customers across the country. In a customer notice issued late on June 27, MTN stated that it is collaborating with international partners to restore full services as quickly as possible, while urging users to bear with the ongoing challenges.

The outage has impacted various sectors, including businesses, education, and everyday communication, highlighting Ghana’s heavy reliance on submarine cables for international bandwidth. Many users reported slow or intermittent connections, with some areas experiencing near-total blackouts in mobile data services. Industry observers note that such incidents are not uncommon in West Africa due to the vulnerability of undersea infrastructure to physical damage, anchoring issues, or natural events. This marks another reminder of the need for diversified connectivity routes and robust backup systems.

MTN, Ghana’s largest mobile network operator, assured subscribers that technical teams are working around the clock to mitigate the effects. The company has not provided a specific timeline for full restoration but indicated that partial improvements are expected soon. Customers have been advised to use alternative networks where available or switch to Wi-Fi connections to minimise inconvenience during this period.

The disruption comes at a time when reliable internet is critical for Ghana’s growing digital economy. Authorities and other telecom providers are monitoring the situation closely, with calls for long-term investments in more resilient infrastructure to prevent future outages. In the meantime, MTN has encouraged affected users to reach out to its customer service lines for support and updates.