Cable theft could affect rural Internet penetration, says LIME
TELECOMMUNICATIONS firm LIME says that increasing incidents of copper cable theft could derail its efforts to deepen rural Internet penetration.
According to LIME, in the most recent incident, cables serving its customers in the deep rural community of Mizpa, Manchester, were stolen before daybreak last Wednesday.
“On previous occasions in the parish, copper thieves removed long lengths of cables serving customers in Christiana, Walderston, Chantilly, Comfort Hall, Spur Tree and Williamsfield. The vandals also cut off service to LIME’s Spalding Exchange that provides Internet and voice telephony to Nine Miles and Baileston in North Clarendon,” the telecoms firm said in a statement.
“LIME shares the Government of Jamaica’s national objective to connect more Jamaicans to the Internet to help them unleash talent, increase individual productivity and exploit opportunities for educational attainment. The persistent theft of copper cables that help us achieve this national goal is of deep concern to us as it poses a threat to Jamaica’s overall broadband deployment plans,” said LIME Head of Service Support, Ronnie Thompson.
In January, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell, said, during a radio interview, that he would be willing to develop legislation to provide stiffer penalties for the theft and vandalism of telephone cables.
LIME has since indicated its willingness to assist at any stage of the legislative process in order to expedite passage.
“It is time for the country to begin looking beyond these incidents as mere acts of theft. When cables serving homes, schools, hospitals and police stations are stolen, public safety and national security risks arise,” Thompson said.
In the meantime, the company said it is investing in technology to protect its copper cables and other outdoor assets in vulnerable areas.
Connecting more rural communities to the Internet is one of the key objectives of LIME’s overall strategy to bridge the access gap between rural and urban areas.
Last December, LIME announced a partnership with DEKAL Wireless to deploy Super WiFi technology to more people in more rural communities. The strategy is also supported by the Government through the Universal Access Fund, and has resulted in the deployment of Internet access to over 400 schools and several community access points in mainly rural communities.
