As part of efforts to boost customer and user experience in the Western and Ashanti regions, mobile network operator, Tigo Ghana limited, has started work on a US$3.2 million overhead fibre-optic cable project.

It is expected to end indiscriminate fibre cuts by illegal miners, road contractors and property developers which is affecting Tigo’s network quality and user experience particularly in both regions.

“On the average we record about 51 cable cuts every month between the Ashanti and Western regions and this is mainly due to the operations of illegal mine workers and on-going road expansion projects in both regions.

Apart from spending millions annually to replace these cables, the impact on customer and user experience is damaging to say the least,” said Obafemi Banigbe, Chief Operations Officer for Tigo Ghana.

He explained that “Putting the cables on overhead concrete poles would stop people from digging them out in the ground and this will boost network quality, improve customer and user experience and also increase Tigo’s coverage footprints in both Western and Ashanti regions. Both consumers and businesses will get value for money and see a massive improvement in service delivery”, Mr Obafemi said.

The project is in 3 phases and will cover a 360 kilometre stretch from Dunkwa through to Kumasi. It involves putting up some 4, 600 concrete poles and will be completed by February 2015.