MTN Nigeria has provided clarification regarding the widespread network outage experienced by its subscribers on Wednesday, attributing the disruption to “multiple fibre cuts.”
With over 87 million subscribers as of December 2023, MTN holds the largest market share among licensed Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Nigeria, according to data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).
Truth Live News reports that subscribers encountered difficulties making and receiving calls for several hours, prompting speculation that the outage was linked to the NCC’s deadline for linking National Identification Numbers (NIN) to phone numbers.
Addressing the situation, MTN, in a statement on social media, acknowledged the challenges faced by subscribers and explained the cause as “multiple fibre cuts affecting voice and data services.”
The telecommunications company assured customers that its engineers were diligently working to restore services, with gradual improvements observed in some areas.
“We apologise for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience and understanding as our team works to restore full service as soon as possible,” MTN stated.
Meanwhile, the NCC reiterated its directive for telecom service providers to disconnect subscribers who have not linked their phone numbers to their NIN by February 28, 2024, emphasizing the importance of this measure for national security.