Identified 3750 Law Enforcement Personnel Using Unlawful Communication Channels
In the first half of 2025, a staggering 3750 instances of illegally installed fiber optic cable suspensions were identified on power line towers, causing significant operational, legal, and security consequences for telecom operators and authorities worldwide.
The issue, documented in various geopolitical contexts, highlights the complexity of responsibility and solutions. In this article, we delve into the consequences, responsible parties, and potential solutions to address this pressing concern.
### Consequences
Illegal fiber installations can lead to major outages, as evidenced by incidents where fiber cuts or illegal connections resulted in internet blackouts affecting tens of thousands of users for extended periods. These disruptions not only inconvenience consumers but also cause substantial economic damage.
Regulatory and legal sanctions are another consequence of unauthorized installations, which violate telecom regulations. For example, in Venezuela, unlicensed use of satellite communications violates laws, resulting in fines and confiscations of equipment. Similarly, authorities in Thailand and Cambodia have ordered the removal or height restrictions on illegal cross-border fiber optics and telecom towers as part of regulatory enforcement.
Illegal fiber optic infrastructure near sensitive borders has been linked to enabling cybercriminal operations, such as fraud call centers operating across Thai-Cambodian borders. This raises national security concerns and prompts aggressive regulatory responses.
### Responsible Parties
The proliferation of illegal networks can be attributed to several parties, including illegal operators and smugglers, users and end consumers, power and utility companies, and regulators and enforcement agencies. In some regions, the demand for unmet services by licensed operators drives illicit providers to exploit this gap. Users, often unaware of legal risks, also contribute to the problem. Power companies suffer from unauthorized usage and bear the brunt of infrastructure damage and service losses.
### Solutions for Operators
Operators and regulators need to employ advanced signal scanning and physical inspections to identify unauthorized installations early. Stronger penalties, including fines and equipment confiscations, deter illegal connections. Coordinated crackdowns on illegal operators are crucial, as seen in ongoing regulatory efforts in Southeast Asia.
Power companies should improve security around tower infrastructure to prevent illegal cable attachments, possibly incorporating surveillance and physical barriers. Public awareness campaigns and compliance incentives can reduce demand for illegal connections by educating users on legal risks and encouraging authorized service adoption.
Cross-border coordination is vital to address illegal installations that facilitate transnational cybercrime and unauthorized internet access. Effective solutions require strong regulatory action, enhanced infrastructure security, regional cooperation, and public awareness campaigns to mitigate risks and protect network integrity.
In Russia, specialists from the "Rosseti Siberia"-"Chitaenergo" branch have been actively identifying and addressing instances of illegal fiber installation. Providers are advised to submit a written request for the issuance of technical conditions and contract conclusion. The cost of renting power line towers for providers ranges from 153 to 844 rubles per tower per month.
This year, illegally installed communication lines were found in several locations in the regional capital, as well as in the villages of Ugdan, Smolensk, Gazimur, Maleta, and the GRES settlement of Chernovsky district. If the cable is not officially accounted for by energy workers, it will be removed in case of repair or network relocation.
In conclusion, the illegally installed fiber optic cables on power line towers pose risks to power supply and internet services. It is in the operators' interest to sign power line tower rental contracts or remove the telecommunication equipment independently to ensure network integrity and safety.
In the pursuit of addressing this pressing concern, it's essential for operators to implement advanced signal scanning and physical inspections to deter unauthorized fiber optic installations, as demonstrated by the efforts of specialists from the "Rosseti Siberia"-"Chitaenergo" branch in Russia. Moreover, stronger legal penalties, such as fines and equipment confiscations, can deter illegal connections, curb cybercriminal activities, and maintain national security.
