Telecommunications provider MTN is deploying an innovative technology capable of automatically detecting fibre-cut threats and predicting when physical disruptions may impact its fibre Internet network, significantly reducing the time required to dispatch technicians and resolve issues.

Telecommunications operators frequently experience service disruptions caused by fibre cuts. Challenges such as third-party excavation, road maintenance activities, and other construction work continue to pose significant risks to fibre infrastructure.

To address these challenges, MTN and Huawei successfully completed a proof of concept in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, validating a fibre sensing solution capable of detecting subtle vibrations around fibre ducts. The solution leverages AI to classify vibration events and identify potential third-party intrusion threats. As a result, field teams can be alerted and dispatched to the site before fibre cuts happen owing to excavation work, enabling proactive protection of critical fibre assets.

Long-term trials conducted since 2025 have demonstrated that the solution’s advanced predictive capabilities can significantly reduce the occurrence of fibre cut incidents. In addition, it helps accelerate fault diagnosis and repair, substantially shortening the time required to locate and restore damaged fibre infrastructure, which previously took about six hours.

At the same time, MTN is accelerating the evolution of fibre fault management from automation toward autonomy. Powered by AI copilots and intelligent agents, and enabled through collaborative intelligence across the device, network and service layers, MTN is building a next-generation agent-driven network architecture. This framework establishes closed-loop autonomous capabilities throughout the entire network lifecycle and paves the way toward a sustainable, scalable and highly autonomous network operating model.

MTN is considering deploying this technology on its critical links to enhance the reliability of its fibre infrastructure.

This initiative complements MTN’s broader artificial intelligence strategy, which aims to integrate AI deeply into both network operations and service delivery. By leveraging AI-centric network solutions, MTN is helping reshape Africa’s digital future and positioning the continent at the forefront of technological innovation.