South Africa: Cable theft hits International media operations

Telkom’s technicians had to restore communications at a international media building after thieves allegedly made off with copper cable severing phone links to the BBC, Sky News and other media houses.

On Friday phones stopped working after robbers cut a chunk from a underground Telkom copper cable, also affecting Telkom-based broadband internet connections.

Telkom technician at the site said the thieves had probably accessed the cabling through a nearby manhole. Prices are fuelling international black market trade in scrap copper, iron and other metals. The opposition Democratic Alliance recently estimated 5 billion each year due to cabble theft.

By IT News Africa staff reporter