FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani,
TELECOMMUTATION GIANT, MTN has asked journalists from across the country to educate the general public on the negative effect of unscrupulous people cutting their fibre optic lines saying it affects conommunity members and their communication with outside world more so must be vigilante and prevent such occurancies
General Manager, Northern Business District, Nii Adotey Mingle said this last Thursday when the MTN met with journalissts from Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions in Sunyani dubbed MTN Editors Forum.
The forum also participated by other state agencies including the EPA, the Ghana Highway Authority, Urban Roads, Police and Journalists from across the regions afforded the MTN to update practioners on its activities over the year including investements in digital infrasrature to improve upon quality services with customers and other stakeholders in all parts of the country.
In a panel discussion, a network engineer with the company Philip Ennin revealed that one of the biggest challenges facing the network company is the continuous cuting of its fibre optic lines which affect connectivity with affected communities leading to service interruptions. This in turn affect community businesses through ommunication with the outside world. like calling the fire and ambulance services to attend to emergency.
‘Our key challenge is fibre optic cuts. We invest a lot in fibre optics but if individuals and construction companies continue to cut these lines its impacts our activities to bring service closer to such communities.
This year alone from January to date we have experienced 211 fibre cuts and this has impacted about 14 percent of customers.
Apart from fibre cuts he also bemoaned the incidents of cables theft on MTN masts which is common at Sampa, Mim and Bediako stretch of its operational areas.
Other challenges we face as network company insecurity at areas affected by curfews and our engineers are unable to reach such areas to operate.
He therefore urged media practioners to use their platforms to highlight the challenges to allow community members understand that these thefts not only affect MTN but their ability to make calls, communicate with love ones and transact businesses, like calling ambulance, fire services to attend to disater situations.
‘ Everyone must help to protect our common interests and imorove the efficiency of our services to customers’.
Explaining the need for continuos engagement with stakeholders including media partners every year, Chief Customer Experience Officer, Jemima Kotei Wash said there was the need to update stakeholders and customers on what the company is doing to satisfy their needs in face of challenges they face as they use MTN products.
‘It is our commitment to share purpose, exchange ideas and ensure every customer enjoy reliable service’.
According to her, as part of efforts to ensure customers enjoy reliable service and be part of digitalised global community, the MTN has invested a little over one billion dollars in strengthening Ghana’s digital infrasrature and this year spent $240m to expand 4G and 5G services and support momo businesse
She also spoke of introduction of MTN biodegradable SIM cards which are environmentally friendly and has no harm to the environment.
Madam Jemima Kotei further advised all Ghanaians irrespective of age to sign up to the digital world since the world has now gone digal in every part of human endeavour.
‘You cannot afford to be left behind. It is not only for the youth but the elderly also especially people above 40 years should enbrace the digital age.
General Manager in charge of Northen Business District also added that the people in Bono and Bono East Regions towards the end of this year and next year are going to see massive improvement in the MTN services since the company expanding its sites with seven in Bono and three in Bono East Regions.
He adviased customers to refrain from entertaining fraudsters on their cell phones if the caller is unknown and is asking questions on their mobile accounts. Threat your mobile wallets account as your bank account and never reveal your Personal Identification Number to anybody”, he emphasised.