Telecom battles debilitating copper theft amid service outages
By Friday, residents and businesses in Dorado Valley, Windhoek, had been without fixed-line telephone and internet services for just over a week after copper cables were stolen and vandalised. Services had reportedly still not been restored by the time of the report on Friday.
The outage underscores the growing threat posed to Namibia’s communication infrastructure by cable theft.
In a statement last week, Telecom Namibia confirmed the ongoing disruption and said technical teams were on-site, working urgently to restore services.
The company noted that repairs are complex due to the extent of the damage but stressed that restoring connectivity remains a top priority.
Copper cable theft is a recurring problem for Telecom Namibia clients, with repeated incidents across Windhoek and nationwide causing frequent disruptions to internet and telephone services.
Businesses are particularly vulnerable, losing revenue and facing operational delays. Households are also affected, with many residents forced to buy mobile data to stay connected.
These incidents show the broader implications of infrastructure theft, as communities bear the cost in lost productivity and economic impact.
Cable theft is more than a technical inconvenience – it is a serious social and financial problem affecting both businesses and daily life.
Police and community role
City Police spokesperson Superintendent Marcelline Murapo said there are currently limited mechanisms to curb copper theft, beyond regular patrols and community reporting.
“We advise that people should not buy suspected stolen items. We mainly depend on community members to inform us if they see anybody carrying or selling copper wires,” Murapo said.
She added that a planned meeting with scrapyard owners, intended to tighten control over copper wire sales, has not yet materialised but is scheduled for early next year.
Meanwhile, the City Police continue to rely on intelligence from informants and CCTV-monitored areas to track theft activities.
Costly repairs
Telecom Namibia says major copper wire theft is particularly costly, with a single incident often exceeding N$100 000 in repair costs, not including the wider economic impact of service downtime.
The company notes that such incidents tend to spike during the festive season, when reports of vandalism and theft increase.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity involving cables, manholes or network infrastructure. Reports can be made to the Namibian Police on 10111, Telecom Namibia’s call centre on 11000, or via WhatsApp at 085 211 1111.
The outage underscores the growing threat posed to Namibia’s communication infrastructure by cable theft.
In a statement last week, Telecom Namibia confirmed the ongoing disruption and said technical teams were on-site, working urgently to restore services.
The company noted that repairs are complex due to the extent of the damage but stressed that restoring connectivity remains a top priority.
Copper cable theft is a recurring problem for Telecom Namibia clients, with repeated incidents across Windhoek and nationwide causing frequent disruptions to internet and telephone services.
Businesses are particularly vulnerable, losing revenue and facing operational delays. Households are also affected, with many residents forced to buy mobile data to stay connected.
These incidents show the broader implications of infrastructure theft, as communities bear the cost in lost productivity and economic impact.
Cable theft is more than a technical inconvenience – it is a serious social and financial problem affecting both businesses and daily life.
Police and community role
City Police spokesperson Superintendent Marcelline Murapo said there are currently limited mechanisms to curb copper theft, beyond regular patrols and community reporting.
“We advise that people should not buy suspected stolen items. We mainly depend on community members to inform us if they see anybody carrying or selling copper wires,” Murapo said.
She added that a planned meeting with scrapyard owners, intended to tighten control over copper wire sales, has not yet materialised but is scheduled for early next year.
Meanwhile, the City Police continue to rely on intelligence from informants and CCTV-monitored areas to track theft activities.
Costly repairs
Telecom Namibia says major copper wire theft is particularly costly, with a single incident often exceeding N$100 000 in repair costs, not including the wider economic impact of service downtime.
The company notes that such incidents tend to spike during the festive season, when reports of vandalism and theft increase.
Residents are urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity involving cables, manholes or network infrastructure. Reports can be made to the Namibian Police on 10111, Telecom Namibia’s call centre on 11000, or via WhatsApp at 085 211 1111.
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