Internet Outage: Network Operators Agree to Review Data Resources Allocation
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the country have agreed to review the allocation of data resources to customers amid the current disruption in internet connection.
The consensus followed a meeting between the National Communications Authority (NCA) and stakeholders in the quest to deduce suitable solutions to the impact of the internet outage on banking transactions and digital payments of utilities.
As part of agreed measures, MNOs would prioritise allocating more data resources to the financial and public utility service providers as well as critical services providers.
“At the end of the meeting, it was agreed that due to the limited bandwidth currently available, MNOs would review their operations and consider the possibility of prioritising and allocating more data resources to the above-mentioned and other critical services while they work with the Subsea Cable Landing Service Providers to progressively improve internet data capacity.”
In forestalling future recurrence of the challenges posed to the financial sector, the NCA said it recommended that the financial and utility service providers consider hosting critical services locally to ensure continuous service delivery in the event of a major disruption such as the current situation and to leverage local internet exchanges (GIX and AIX).
Meanwhile, the Authority recommended Subsea Cable Landing Service Providers and MNOs progressively continue to receive capacity from their international partners as they work towards full restoration of data services to enhance user experience.
The disruption in internet connection which has impacted data and Voice over IP (VoIP) services of various telecommunication companies in Ghana began on Thursday, March 14 and has been attributed to disruption in international undersea cables.
In an update on March 17, 2024, the National Communication Authority (NCA), said the approximate locations of the damage have been identified by subsea cable landing service providers with preparations to dispatch repair vessels to the location for physical assessment and restoration made.
It said it would take a minimum of five weeks for full-service restoration.
