By Bill W. Cooper
The Liberia Telecommunication Authority (LTA) has officially announced a nationwide internet outage scheduled from April 22 to April 28, 2025, leading to internet connectivity across the country being unavailable or significantly affected during the stipulated period.
This significant disruption, according to an LTA release, is attributed to essential maintenance work and the relocation of Liberia’s undersea fiber optic cable, known as the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) cable.
However, the announcement has since raised serious concerns among citizens and businesses alike. Internet has become an integral part of daily life in the country, as the ACE cable, which connects several West African countries to Europe, is crucial for providing high-speed internet access to Liberia.
It can be recalled that on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, the Cable Consortium of Liberia (CCL), in partnership with the LTA commenced work to redirect a key segment of the country’s undersea fiber-optic internet cable currently buried beneath PHP Park in Monrovia.
During a site inspection, CCL CEO and Board Chairman Henry Benson revealed that a section of the Africa Coast to Europe (ACE) fiber-optic cable sustained damage beneath a monument erected in the park.
He criticized the decision to construct on the site despite multiple warnings from telecommunications stakeholders, and noted, “The ACE, Orange Liberia, Lonestar Cell MTN, LTA, and CCL all advised the former CDC-led administration to avoid construction over the cable, but those warnings went unheeded.”
To avoid dismantling the culturally significant park while restoring internet reliability, Benson announced that a team from the global ACE consortium is expected to arrive by ship on April 22 to begin the redirection process.
The operation, estimated to cost US$200,000, will cause intermittent nationwide service disruptions from April 23 to April 28.
“As we stand here, the ACE cable lies directly beneath us buried under heavy rocks. With every tide, those rocks shift, increasing the risk of total internet failure,” Benson explained.
He emphasized that while demolition of PHP Park was considered, the decision to reroute the cable was made in recognition of the park’s importance as a public space.
“In collaboration with LTA and our stakeholders, we decided to relocate the cable to a safer zone to ensure uninterrupted connectivity,” Benson added, praising government institutions like the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), and the Liberia Football Association (LFA) for their coordination.
He disclosed that the LWSC has agreed to avoid the cable’s new route in future infrastructure projects, while the LEC adjusted pole placements and a portion of the Blue Field mini-stadium was removed to facilitate the work.
LTA’s Chairperson Abdullah Kamara reaffirmed the regulator’s commitment to minimizing service disruptions during the operation and underscored the high stakes of internet outages.
“President Joseph Boakai understands the economic toll and national security risks tied to internet blackouts. That’s why resolving this issue remains a top priority,” Kamara stated.
He also clarified the ownership structure of the ACE cable, noting that the Government of Liberia holds a 75 percent stake, while Orange Liberia and Lonestar Cell MTN own 25 percent collectively.
The Liberia Telecommunications Corporation (LTC) owns 20 percent of the total share.
“We applaud Mr. Benson and the entire CCL team for their resilience and tireless efforts to keep Liberia connected,” Kamara said.
The redirection project is expected to significantly enhance the reliability of Liberia’s internet infrastructure, benefiting businesses, educational institutions, and individuals nationwide.
