Over 7,000 residential and business customers of One Communications have been affected by service disruptions linked to vandalism and copper theft over the past two months, as the telecommunications provider calls for greater public involvement in protecting the country’s network infrastructure. One Communications said it recorded five incidents of vandalism and copper theft during the period, resulting in disruptions to fixed and mobile services. Some of the incidents also affected critical public sector facilities. The company said damage to telecommunications infrastructure can take considerable time and resources to repair, with restoration sometimes requiring the replacement of cables and network equipment, excavation, cable splicing, testing and the deployment of specialised technical teams. Communications and Community Relations Manager at One Communications, Jasmin Harris, said each incident has consequences for customers who depend on telecommunications services for their daily activities.

“Every time a cable is stolen, deliberately damaged or severed during other works, there are people on the other end who suddenly lose a service they depend on,” Harris said. She noted that while technical teams work to restore services as quickly as possible, repeated damage to the network makes it increasingly difficult to maintain service reliability. Telecommunications infrastructure supports businesses, schools, healthcare providers, Government agencies, emergency services and households, making disruptions capable of affecting a wide range of activities. One Communications said the responsibility for protecting this infrastructure cannot rest solely with telecommunications providers.

The company said it continues to engage relevant authorities, law enforcement agencies, contractors and other stakeholders to strengthen preventative measures, improve coordination during works that could affect telecommunications infrastructure, and deter the theft and destruction of network assets. It is also appealing to communities to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity involving telecommunications cables, poles, cabinets, underground infrastructure and other network equipment.