Recurring cable cuts have prompted internet and IT solutions provider AccessKenya to install a fibre monitoring system for its 450 km carrier ethernet fibre optic network.

AccessKenya’s group managing director, Jonathan Somen, says the system -- which was installed in November -- is planned to help the firm detect unanticipated faults on its Kenyan network.

The move comes as Kenya has been hit by a wave of illegal fibre cuts.

The likes of Telkom Kenya has said that cable vandalism is costing it approximately $23 million annually.

Meanwhile, AccessKenya in a statement noted that it spends about Ksh 200,000 in repair costs for every fibre cut, which average three to four weekly.

Nairobi is AccessKenya’s hardest hit city with regard to cable cuts.

“90% of disruption to our infrastructure is caused by contractors and cases of vandalism,” said AccessKenya’s Somen in a statement.

“With this system in place we can now coordinate network faults and better map distances to resolve such interruptions much faster, even as we expand our metropolitan coverage”, Somen added.

In addition to announcing its fibre monitoring system, the firm said in a statement that it is also in the process of expanding its wireless network coverage to include all the 47 counties in Kenya by the end of 2014.