Operators Move to Avert Threats to Telecoms’ Critical Infrastructure

Emma Okonji

Disturbed by the willful destruction of telecoms infrastructure across the country which leads to disruptions in telecoms services such as incessant drop calls and disconnection of voice calls and data, telecoms operators under the aegis of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), met in Lagos recently to develop a multi-stakeholder action plan for the protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure (CNII) assets in the telecoms sector.

The meeting, which was a gathering of high-level stakeholders in the industry, included regulators and law enforcement agencies, and was hosted by IHS Nigeria, part of the IHS Holding Limited and developers of shared communications infrastructure.

Recognising the importance of communications infrastructure as the backbone of national security, economic growth and social cohesion, the stakeholders agreed on the urgent need for collaborative solutions to ensure the protection of vital telecoms assets in Nigeria.

The meeting was attended by senior representatives from the telecommunications stakeholder groups and regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), ALTON, the Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), and the Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency, (LASIMRA).

Also in attendance were representatives from the Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), and InfraCos as well as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the security agency tasked with the protection of Critical National Infrastructure across the country.

Following extensive deliberations, the stakeholders resolved to establish a working group dedicated to addressing key industry challenges, including the vandalisation and theft of telecommunications infrastructure, arbitrary shutdown of base stations, fiber cuts due to road construction and the denial of access by unauthorised individuals by leveraging technology for real-time monitoring and protection, strengthening security measures around telecommunications sites and collaborating more with the security and regulatory agencies to mitigate the challenges.

The stakeholders underscored the need to prioritise deterrence and prevention of the incidents and highlighted the importance of public awareness campaigns to sensitise the host communities and public of the need to protect telecommunications infrastructure in their localities.

Senior Vice President & Chief Corporate Services Officer of IHS Nigeria, Dapo Otunla, said: “The protection of Critical National Information Infrastructure has been a critical concern for all industry stakeholders.

“We are experiencing daily losses of assets, which significantly impacted on the quality of service delivered to subscribers. Addressing the issues is paramount to sustaining Nigeria’s digital ecosystem and meeting regulatory expectations.”