Analysis: Copper Theft’s True Toll Understated in Telecom Infrastructure Reports

Analysis: Copper Theft’s True Toll Understated in Telecom Infrastructure Reports

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2025 — Attacks on the nation’s communications networks have escalated, and new industry data understates the true scope of the damage, according to one analysisMore than 15,000 incidents were recorded between June 2024 and June 2025, disrupting service for about 9.5 million Americans. Copper theft and sabotage were the leading causes, with California and Texas accounting for more than half of all recorded cases.Economist Edw…

The Rising Toll of Infrastructure Damage on America’s Telecommunications Networks

By Karmen Rajamani, Vice President, Government Affairs, Wireless Infrastructure Association  Between June 2024 and June 2025, more than 15,000 incidents of theft and vandalism struck U.S. telecommunications networks, disrupting service for over 9.5 million customers. Nearly two-thirds of those attacks occurred in just the first half of 2025 across America’s communications companies, a clear signal that the threat to communications infrastructure…