For over half a decade, we at Recordspad Software Company, operating in Owerri, Imo State, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Nigeria, have faced a perplexing and persistent issue. Despite our technological prowess, I and my team have struggled to connect to GoDaddy’s cPanel when using MTN as our internet service provider. This ongoing challenge has significantly impacted our workflow and productivity.
 

The Initial Discovery

The problem first came to light when I, the founder and Chief Software Officer at Recordspad, noticed repeated connection errors (your IP address has changed) while attempting to access GoDaddy’s cPanel. It was a routine task that suddenly became a major obstacle. Despite various troubleshooting attempts, the issue persisted, disrupting our ability to manage clients’ websites efficiently.
 

Identifying the Common Denominator

As the issue continued, our team began to notice a pattern. Every instance of the connectivity problem occurred while using MTN’s internet services. Switching to a different ISP seemed to resolve the issue temporarily, but this was not a viable long-term solution. We can’t keep switching providers every time we need to access cPanel. There is need for a reliable and consistent solution.
 

Expanding the Impact

The connectivity issue extended beyond Recordspad’s internal operations. Clients who hosted their websites on GoDaddy and used MTN as their internet service provider also faced problems. Many reported being unable to access their web emails, a critical component for their business communications. Our clients were frustrated, as they depend on their web emails for daily operations, and not being able to access them was unacceptable.
 

Seeking Solutions

I and my team reached out to both MTN and GoDaddy’s customer service departments. The response was a frustrating cycle of basic troubleshooting steps and scripted responses, none of which provided a resolution. Each call felt like starting from scratch. The team was repeatedly advised to clear caches, check DNS settings, and ensure their network configurations were correct—steps we had already taken multiple times.
 

A Temporary Workaround

As our frustration grew, we had to settle for an alternative solution: using a VPN. This approach aimed to bypass the ISP-specific issues by masking their internet connection. To our relief, this workaround allowed us to access GoDaddy’s cPanel and our clients to access their web emails. While this solution provided immediate relief, it was not sustainable. Using a VPN is a band-aid, not a cure.
 

Wider Impact on the Developer Community

The ongoing connectivity issue has influenced the behavior of many software developers in Nigeria. To avoid similar problems, some developers have chosen to steer clear of hosting their websites on GoDaddy. Others, when they do use GoDaddy, make it a point to avoid MTN as their internet service provider or resort to using VPNs. These workarounds are not ideal, using VPNs can introduce vulnerabilities and complicate  workflow.
 

The Road to Resolution

Determined to find a lasting solution, I continued to engage with both MTN and GoDaddy. Despite our persistence, the issue remains unresolved. MTN and GoDaddy have yet to collaborate effectively to address the connectivity problems.

Today, Recordspad Software Company continues to operate under these constraints, leveraging our experience to navigate new challenges with creativity and professionalism.