The state-owned operator Tmcel on Thursday (18) in Maputo called for harsher penalties against those responsible for vandalizing telecommunications infrastructure, arguing that such acts have compromised the expansion of the mobile network and caused significant losses, according to Lusa.
“We have many infrastructures that have suffered vandalism, and this compromises the expansion of both the mobile and fixed networks, causing substantial losses,” said Manuel Mabunda, the company’s security officer, on the sidelines of a forum on preventing and combating the vandalism of public infrastructure.
According to Mabunda, acts of vandalism do not only cause material damage but also communication outages that require costly repairs. “Tmcel faces the challenge of expanding the network to remote areas, but these acts of vandalism compromise that,” he emphasized. Maputo and its province, as well as Inhambane and Sofala, were identified as the most critical areas. Despite police action, Mabunda lamented that current measures “are not having the desired effect.” “We have witnessed situations where someone interrupts fiber or cuts copper cables, goes to the police, and due to the nature of the crime, is released. But the consequences were greater,” he criticized.
The manager argued that current sanctions are “lenient” and called on the justice system for firmer enforcement. “We want to appeal to the Public Prosecutor, the PRM, and the courts for slightly harsher penalties in order to discourage these acts. Otherwise, the situation will become complicated,” he warned. In July, Tmcel reported losses of 4.4 billion meticais (65.1 million dollars) in 2024, double compared to the previous year, although the company increased its mobile customer base from 717,000 to 841,000.
As part of the ongoing modernization, valued at 132 million dollars (12.7 billion meticais), Tmcel expanded broadband coverage from 10 to 400 gigabits per second and upgraded the mobile network to 4.5G, in a project financed by China’s Eximbank. However, infrastructure vandalism is cited as a major obstacle that threatens to undermine the ongoing investment.
Source: Diário Económico
