Criminals plunging subscribers into network blackouts by stripping cellphone towers | The Star

Johannesburg - Criminal syndicates stealing batteries and copper cables from cellphone towers are costing the service providers millions of rand and plunging subscribers into network blackouts. Network providers believe that the syndicate is highly organised and continuously comes up with the new ways to commit these crimes and evade arrest.

Police spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Katlego Mogale said because this is a new phenomenon, the visible policing department of the police were still investigating the matter and establishing the cause of the rise in the targeting of cellphone towers. “Each theft incident can result in the network in that area being down for days, and can severely impact businesses as well as anyone relying on the internet,” Vodacom spokesperson Byron Kennedy said.

The batteries, which can cost R28000 and upwards, are a sought-after in the black market, especially in neighbouring countries. O’Sullivan said these criminal acts cost MTN millions of rand and the impact on the industry was “exorbitant”.

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