EPTC calls for legislation against copper theft amidst E200 million loss
COPPER theft is a pandemic! The Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC) is pushing for legislative measures to classify copper theft as a national disaster and to safeguard critical national infrastructure. The company has asserted that by elevating the status of copper theft to a national disaster, it aims to not only highlight the severity of the issue but also to expedite the restoration of services for affected customers.
During a media briefing held at the Hilton Garden Inn on Wednesday, EPTC Managing Director Themba Khumalo revealed the staggering financial toll inflicted by copper theft, citing losses exceeding E200 million. Khumalo highlighted the extensive history of EPTC’s investment in infrastructure, spanning over five decades, with copper infrastructure serving as the cornerstone of telecommunications development in the country. Also present during the briefing was EPTC management.
The MD likened the bad practice to a pandemic stating that it is spreading and causing vast trouble in the country.
Khumalo lamented, “I did mention copper theft, which is a subject we like to forget as EPTC because it’s a lost cause. But I think to be fair and also to ensure we forget more comfortably and also solve the issues for our customers, I think it’s important to highlight how much we’ve lost through this process.” He emphasized that the theft of copper cables, amounting to over 300 million over the past decade alone, represents a significant setback to the corporation’s efforts to expand and modernize its infrastructure.
In light of these staggering losses, EPTC MD said that they are advocating for stringent penalties for copper theft offenders, recognizing the critical need to deter such criminal activities and protect vital national assets. Khumalo stressed the importance of comprehensive interventions to address the root causes of copper theft, emphasizing the imperative of legislative action to curb this pervasive problem.
The proposed legislation aims to not only impose harsh penalties on copper thieves but also to establish robust mechanisms for the protection and surveillance of critical infrastructure.
Further, the company also added that the effects of copper theft have given the company hurdles. Khumalo said that these challenges have resulted in a loss of customers, and revenue, and have impacted the overall customer service experience. He said the high cost of copper replacement has further compounded the situation, resulting in service unavailability and posing a threat to job security. The MD stated that in response to these challenges, EPTC commenced rebuilding its infrastructure, adopting better technologies to deliver high-speed broadband. He added that the company is focused on addressing the perceived high rates/tariffs, by reducing consumer and wholesale rates in the recent periods.
In the face of global trends and technological advancements, Khumalo expressed that the Eswatini Post recognizes the need to adapt and innovate to continue providing better services to its customers. Therefore, he said that the postal business is undergoing digital transformation. “It will be a key player in financial services, logistics partner in the e-commerce space and e-Government services. The company is committed to taking services to the people by aligning with the ICT Strategy,” stated the MD.
EPTC further highlighted that the company after adopting its turnaround strategy in June 2023, they are moving from the legacy investments of copper and embracing fibre. According to Khumalo, the company now sits at 6,000 optical fibre connections and looking to stretch that number. “…. the total number of home passes, we’re counting the number of homes where our optical fibre is passing, which means once it passes your gate, you can connect,” said the MD. “It’s now sitting at 6,000. But for this financial year, the new one, we set a very tight target. We want to grow that to 38,000. I mean, that’s a significant growth. From 6,000 to 38,000 in one financial year, it means we’ll be doing our interventions a lot differently. We’ll be working with our resources internally.”