Cuban province victim of vandalism in telephone networks

 HAVANA, Cuba, May 26 (ACN) The Territorial Division of the Cuban Telecommunications Company S.A. (ETECSA by its Spanish acronym) in the western province of Artemisa has reported 16 vandalism incidents so far this year, directly affecting its telecommunications infrastructure, the weekly newspaper El Artemiseño reported today.

Leidy Alfonso Espinosa, Communications specialist of that entity, explained to the source that the crimes include theft of telephone downspouts, damages to public telephony and affectations to the outside plant.

These incidents have generated interruptions in services and significant economic losses for the company, informed Alfonso Espinosa to the newspaper.

Data published in the information reveals that the most affected municipality is Caimito, with six cases, followed by Guanajay and Bauta, with three reports each, and other localities such as Alquizar, Bahia Honda, Güira de Melena and Mariel, which have registered one case each.

In addition, according to the statement, the company has warned about the illegal use of the radio electric spectrum due to the importation of mobile network repeaters and coverage amplifiers.

This equipment generates interferences that deteriorate the quality of service, especially in public WiFi navigation areas.

Alfonso Espinosa pointed out that 60 % of the radio bases in the province of Artemisa do not have energy backup, which aggravates the effects on connectivity due to prolonged power outages.

In view of these problems, the publication stresses, Etecsa reminds that, according to Decree-Law No. 35, in force since 2021, the authorities can proceed to the confiscation of illegal equipment and the imposition of fines of up to 2,000 pesos, while assuring that actions to mitigate these problems continue, in order to guarantee a better quality of telecommunications services in the region.