BTC losses P29million to cable theft

According to the group' s financial results for the six months ending 30 September 2022, the financial perfomance for the period was depressed by an escalation in replacement costs for stolen copper from their network.

BTC Managing Director, Anthony Masunga, said they have since intensified efforts and increased its capital budget towards building alternative technologies to replace the copper network investments.

"Copper cable theft inhibit our ability to provide quality communications services to customers,"

When copper cables are cut and stolen the end result is service disruption meaning customers do not have access to communication, which could put lives at risk.

Further, damage to BTC infrastructure results in Internet service outage, which in turn affects customers’ ability to transact either online or through the ATM hence denying them the opportunity to buy or pay for services. In essence copper cable theft negatively impacts businesses and their ability to provide service to customers.