Cable Theft and Vandalism of Telecommunications Infrastructure in Latin America
AN ISOC LIVE Summary
Junior Fellowship Program 2025 – cet.la (April 2026)
Authors: Luis Mauricio Torres Alcocer - Coordinator, Latin American Telecommunications Studies Center (cet.la); Carlos David Carrasco Muro - Junior Fellow 2025, cet.la
Introduction
This report examines the growing problem of cable theft and vandalism targeting telecommunications infrastructure across Latin America and the Caribbean. The authors argue that the issue has become a structural challenge affecting both the connectivity of millions of users and the economic sustainability of telecommunications operators. According to a survey of operators in 14 countries, 63% reported a significant or moderate increase in theft and vandalism incidents over the past five years.
The report emphasizes that the consequences extend far beyond the loss of physical assets. These attacks disrupt communications services, undermine network reliability, slow digital development in affected communities, and increase operational costs for service providers. The study also highlights the role of organized criminal groups that target copper, batteries, and other components for resale through illegal domestic and international markets.
The research combines a review of more than 100 news reports from 19 countries published between 2020 and 2025 with a survey of telecommunications operators in 14 Latin American countries.
Telecommunications Infrastructure and Where Attacks Occur
The report places cable theft and vandalism within the broader telecommunications value chain, which it divides into three segments:
First mile: submarine cables, cable landing stations, international gateways, and data centers.
Middle mile: national backbone infrastructure, satellite ground stations, microwave links, and transport networks.
Last mile: infrastructure connecting networks directly to end users.
The authors note that the overwhelming majority of theft and vandalism incidents occur in the last mile, where infrastructure is distributed throughout public spaces and is more difficult to monitor and protect.
Forms of Theft and Vandalism
Copper Cable Theft
Copper cable theft is identified as the most common form of infrastructure crime in the region. Between 40% and 65% of the cases reviewed involved copper cables or unspecified cable theft. The primary driver is economic: copper remains a highly valuable commodity that can be sold through illegal channels, and rising copper prices create strong incentives for criminal activity.
The report describes both opportunistic theft involving simple cable cutting and more sophisticated operations using vehicles and equipment to remove large quantities of cable.
Fiber Optic Cable Theft and Damage
Fiber optic cables are also targeted, although less frequently. The authors suggest that many incidents occur because thieves mistake fiber optic cables for copper. Since fiber has little resale value, these attacks often result in pure destruction rather than economic gain. Some incidents, however, may involve deliberate sabotage or intentional disruption of communications services.
Theft of Batteries and Equipment
The second most common category involves theft of batteries from telecommunications towers, base stations, and power systems. Criminals increasingly target lithium batteries because of their higher value and longer lifespan. These thefts often require vehicles and organized logistics due to the weight and size of the equipment.
Criminal Profiles and Modus Operandi
The report identifies two main categories of offenders.
Opportunistic Criminals
These individuals or small groups engage in occasional thefts without belonging to sophisticated criminal networks. They often include local criminals, people facing economic hardship, individuals experiencing homelessness, or those struggling with addiction who seek quick profits through resale of stolen materials. Examples from Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Uruguay, and Ecuador demonstrate how stolen batteries and copper are frequently sold in local secondary markets.
Organized Criminal Networks
The authors conclude that organized criminal groups account for the majority of significant incidents. In the cases where offender profiles could be identified, approximately 85% involved organized groups, while only 15% involved opportunistic offenders.
These organizations operate sophisticated supply chains that include:
Theft and extraction of materials.
Transportation and storage.
Processing, dismantling, or smelting.
Sale and export of stolen goods through illicit markets.
The report highlights numerous examples of criminals posing as telecommunications technicians by using uniforms, safety equipment, forged credentials, and marked vehicles to gain access to infrastructure sites. Cases from Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Paraguay, Costa Rica, and Mexico demonstrate how common this tactic has become.
The study also identifies links between infrastructure theft and broader organized crime networks. Examples from Brazil, Mexico, and other countries suggest connections between cable theft operations, money laundering, illegal metal trading, and major criminal organizations.
Telecommunications Vandalism as a Tool of Criminal Control
Beyond economic motives, the report notes that criminal organizations sometimes attack telecommunications infrastructure as a means of territorial control. By disrupting communications networks, criminal groups can hinder law enforcement responses, isolate communities, and strengthen their operational dominance.
Examples from Mexico and Colombia illustrate how organized crime and armed groups have targeted telecommunications infrastructure as part of broader security and control strategies.
Impact on Users and Communities
The report finds that 58% of surveyed operators reported a moderate or significant increase in the number of users affected by infrastructure theft and vandalism.
Key impacts include:
Reduced community security.
Physical risks from damaged infrastructure.
Service interruptions affecting fixed, mobile, satellite, and television services.
Reduced confidence in telecommunications providers.
Educational, economic, and social disruptions.
Operators report that service restoration typically takes between three and twelve hours, although more serious incidents involving batteries or power systems can require one to three days to resolve.
Economic Costs to Telecommunications Operators
The report documents substantial economic impacts throughout the region.
Examples include:
Brazil: More than 5.4 million meters of telecommunications cable stolen in 2023, affecting 7.6 million users.
Colombia: Approximately 13,500 theft incidents affecting more than 300,000 users and generating losses of about USD 1.8 million.
Argentina: Telecom and Telefónica estimated annual losses between USD 7 million and USD 8 million.
Ecuador: Reported losses of approximately USD 1.7 million in the province of Pichincha.
Costa Rica: ICE reported losses of approximately USD 1.6 million.
Operators identified the following major impacts:
Replacement of stolen equipment and materials.
Incident response and repair costs.
Higher operating expenses.
Increased security investments.
Rising insurance premiums.
Regulatory penalties related to service disruptions.
Notably, 100% of surveyed operators identified higher operational and security costs as the most significant business consequence of infrastructure theft and vandalism.
Implications for Digital Development and National Security
The authors argue that cable theft and infrastructure vandalism directly undermine efforts to expand connectivity and close digital divides, particularly in rural and underserved areas. Increased security and maintenance costs reduce the resources available for network expansion and discourage investment in high-risk locations.
The report further contends that telecommunications infrastructure should be treated as critical national infrastructure. Persistent attacks threaten not only communications services but also economic development, public services, emergency response capabilities, and national resilience.
Submarine Cables and Emerging Security Concerns
While submarine cables are generally not targets of ordinary criminal vandalism, the report notes growing international concern about their security. Examples include:
The Dominican Republic’s support for the 2024 New York Joint Statement on submarine cable security.
Argentina’s military exercises focused on protecting critical telecommunications infrastructure.
Recent international incidents involving damage to submarine cables in Europe and Asia.
The authors note that Latin America is connected by more than 80 submarine cables and argue that their protection is becoming an increasingly important strategic issue for governments and industry alike.
Recommendations
The report proposes a comprehensive regional strategy built around six pillars:
Prevention and deterrence policies.
Infrastructure protection and incident detection.
Incident response and follow-up mechanisms.
Coordination between operators, governments, law enforcement, and communities.
Mitigation measures.
Stronger action against illegal markets that purchase and process stolen materials.
The authors conclude that cable theft and telecommunications vandalism are no longer isolated property crimes. They represent a regional challenge affecting digital development, investment, public safety, and critical infrastructure resilience. Addressing the problem requires coordinated action by governments, telecommunications operators, law enforcement agencies, and local communities.
RESOURCES
Robo de Cables y Vandalismo de Infraestructura de Telecomunicaciones en América Latina — full cet.la report (April 2026)
cet.la — Centro de Estudios de Telecomunicaciones de América Latina, an ASIET initiative
Centro LATAM Digital — research center on digital policy in Mexico and Latin America
ASIET — Asociación Interamericana de Empresas de Telecomunicaciones
UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (Palermo Convention) — framework for classifying organized crime networks
Openreach SelectaDNA marking — UK case study, cable thefts down 30%
Brazil Lei n.º 15.181 (July 2025) — toughens penalties for cable theft and receiving
Chile Telcos — Chilean telecom association on cable theft impact
The Copper Mark — global responsible-production standard for the copper industry
NCTA — on Los Angeles’ Copper Wire Task Force and US copper theft