Globe Telecom Inc. recorded 746 incidents of cable theft in the first five months of this year, affecting at least 1,600 customers. Globe At Home Broadband Business Vice President Raymond Policarpio said Wednesday, Aug. 2, that while the cases declined from 1,876 in the same period in 2022 and a full year total of 3,598 after Globe shifted to fiber -- "one incident is one too many". "Ultimately, it’s our customers who suffer. Cable theft causes unnecessary inconvenience for our customers,” he maintained. The theft incidents only went down because Globe reduced its use of copper cables as the telco transitioned to fiber. Furthermore, the bundling of fiber cables makes it more difficult for thieves to cut. Copper is the type of cable often stolen and sold to junk shops at around P470 per kilo. To date, Globe continues to campaign against cable theft, partnering with law enforcement agencies and local government units to address the problem. Also, Globe had to allocate P1.4 million to reimburse subscribers affected by outages caused by the illegal acts. “As we continue to work closely with law enforcers and local government units to stop these thieves, we urge our customers to be vigilant and immediately report cable theft incidents via Globe Security hotlines and [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]),” according to Policarpio. Reports can be made via the Globe Security Hotline: 0917 6888545 (nationwide), 0906 3244626 (Visayas) and 09177915794 (Mindanao). Globe has undertaken several measures to improve connectivity services and address cable theft. It continues to expand its fiber deployment and migrate its customers from fixed wireless and legacy technology since last year. In 2022, Globe installed 1.4 million fiber-to-the-home lines, with the rollout continuing vigorously this year. This move guarantees access to high-speed internet while mitigating the impact of cable theft. Aside from reducing its copper cable footprint, Globe is introducing fiber cable labeling to deter thieves. It is also undertaking vertical clearance correction and tree-trimming initiatives to limit easy access to aerial cables. Furthermore, Globe allied with an industry-wide initiative known as "Oplan Kontra Putol." This collective effort, in conjunction with other cable and telecom providers in the country, raises public awareness about illegal cable cutting and the disruptions it causes to families and communities. Globe likewise intensified its campaign against cable theft through its Bantay Kable Program, operating in synergy with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units, such as in Bacolod City. The telco calls for support from various local chief executives to strengthen existing legislation to prevent unnecessary telco service disruptions due to intentional wire cutting and theft.