The Operational Reality of Telecom Cable Installations
By ATO ASEFOAH DADZIE
If you’ve never been on-site during a telecom cable installation in a remote area, it’s easy to underestimate what’s involved. On paper, it’s a straightforward process: lay cable, connect endpoints, test signal, done. But in the field—especially in Ghana’s more rugged terrains—the real story is anything but simple.
At JOBEX COMPANY LTD, we’ve worked on several projects involving the setup of telecom infrastructure in areas far removed from urban convenience. And every time, we walk away reminded: telecom installations are as much about coordination and improvisation as they are about technical specs.
Let’s start with the basics. The terrain.
You can’t always predict what you’re digging into. What looked like sandy soil on a topographic map might turn out to be rock-hard laterite. Or worse—roots, buried pipes, forgotten concrete slabs. We’ve had crews spend hours hand-digging just a few meters. In one instance, we had to reroute a whole segment around a termite mound that turned out to be larger—and harder—than we expected. Those aren’t things you learn in a telecom manual. They’re things you adapt to on the ground.
Then there’s access.
Reaching the installation sites often takes longer than the installation itself. We’ve had teams trek for miles carrying cable drums because the vehicle couldn’t cross a swollen river. Sometimes it’s the rain, sometimes it’s a bridge that gave out weeks ago and hasn’t been repaired. Whatever the reason, we’ve learned to always build extra days into the schedule—not because the work is slow, but because just getting there is half the job.
Power is another challenge.
Telecom equipment doesn’t run on hope. It needs reliable electricity, which remote areas often don’t have. That’s why we’ve integrated portable solar units into many of our projects—at least to power basic tools and testing equipment. In one project, we even had to install a backup inverter just to keep our signal test kit running long enough to validate the fiber connections. Small workaround. Big payoff.
And let’s talk about tools and parts.
You can't pop down to the store when you’re in the bush. If you forget one tool—one splice tray, one connector—you’re stalled. We’ve developed comprehensive field kits, triple-checked before dispatch. Still, things happen. That’s why our field supervisors are trained in minor improvisations—repurposing fasteners, reseating anchors, shielding open terminations with local materials temporarily (carefully, of course). It’s not textbook perfect, but it keeps progress moving.
One thing people don’t talk about enough is people.
Most installations happen on land that belongs to someone—an individual, a community, a chief. No matter how detailed your permissions are on paper, it always helps to engage in person. We’ve learned to include an hour or two of dialogue before cables touch the ground. A handshake, a short explanation in local dialect, a walk-through of what we’re doing. That small gesture can mean the difference between peaceful work and halted progress.
Testing and troubleshooting deserve a whole article on their own. You think the job is done—until the signal test shows loss. Is it a bend radius issue? A crushed section of cable under a rock? A bad fusion splice? Every problem has five potential causes. Patience and methodical rechecking are key. Rushing at this stage undoes everything you’ve built.
And after all that—the installation, the signal tests, the client sign-off—comes the maintenance question. Who looks after the cable after we leave? That’s why we document our paths carefully, use protective casings where possible, and leave the client with maps and notes that actually make sense. It's not enough to build it—we want it to last.
These realities might sound daunting. But they’re also why we’re proud of what we do. At JOBEX COMPANY LTD, we believe in engineering with eyes wide open. We don’t just quote from a distance. We build, fix, walk the terrain, speak to the people—and yes, sometimes dig the hole ourselves.
It’s this grounded, practical mindset that earned us a nomination for the 2025 Go Global Awards, hosted by the International Trade Council this November in London. This isn’t just about recognition. It’s about joining a global conversation—businesses across borders learning from each other, not just in boardrooms, but in the messy, real-world spaces where operations truly live.
Telecom infrastructure isn’t just about signal strength. It’s about the strength of your team, your plan, and your willingness to adapt when reality doesn’t follow the blueprint.