Stronger Together: Industry and Government Move to Combat Telco Equipment Theft

The telco industry in the Philippines is facing a surge in infrastructure-related crimes, as incidents of cable theft and equipment vandalism continue to disrupt critical connectivity nationwide. In 2024 alone, over a thousand incidents were reported, mostly involving stolen copper cables, resulting in significant downtime, service complaints, and lost revenue. In some high-risk areas, theft occurs as frequently as every few days, posing a growing threat to service reliability, public safety, and economic stability.

Given this, telco stakeholders and government agencies are stepping up their collaboration to address these growing threats, aiming to establish a long-term, coordinated national program to protect telecommunications assets and ensure uninterrupted connectivity for millions of Filipinos.

At the forefront of this initiative are PLDT, fellow members of the National Telecommunications Security Council (NTSC), and Protecta Pilipinas, who have joined forces to work closely with the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) to align enforcement strategies, strengthen legislation, and combat the rising incidence of telco equipment theft and its resale through online platforms.

The initiative was formally launched through a high-level kickoff meeting held at the CICC headquarters in Quezon City, where discussions focused on the increasing threat of telco infrastructure theft, an issue that continues to disrupt services, endanger network reliability, and undermine national security.

“Telco networks are part of the country’s critical infrastructure. The theft and sabotage of these systems affect not only our business operations but also millions of Filipinos who rely on connectivity every day,” said Col Wilfredo F. Gonio (Ret), Head of Security Central Command and Administration Center at PLDT. “PLDT is fully committed to working with industry peers at NTSC and Protecta Pilipinas, as well as with government agencies like CICC to implement stronger, coordinated defenses.”

One of the central concerns raised by NTSC members, led by NTSC Chair Col. Romeo M. Basco (Ret.), The director of Security at DITO Telecommunity was lenient on current penalties for telco-related theft, despite the significant damage these crimes inflict on the economy and public service delivery. The group discussed the possibility of reclassifying such acts under more serious offenses, such as economic sabotage or terrorism, due to their impact on national infrastructure.

Adding to the urgency is the growing prevalence of stolen telecom components being sold on online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace. Critical items like fiber optic cables, copper wiring, network switches, and amplifiers are regularly spotted in unauthorized listings, thereby raising major concerns about digital platforms becoming enablers of criminal activity.

“We at Protecta Pilipinas stand with our colleagues in the industry in addressing this issue. We cannot allow these stolen vital components of telecom networks to be brazenly sold as fenced illegal merchandise on online marketplaces,” said Atty. Roy D. Ibay, Convenor of Protecta Pilipinas and Head of Regulatory Affairs at PLDT's wireless subsidiary Smart. “These crimes compromise the public’s access to emergency services, e-commerce, education, and more. It’s time we respond accordingly with tougher laws and more decisive action.”

The CICC, tasked with coordinating the government’s cybercrime efforts, expressed its commitment to supporting the initiative through legislative backing, administrative coordination, and platform monitoring.

“This is a clear example of how cybercrime and physical infrastructure threats intersect,” said Atty. Renato A. Paraiso, Deputy Executive Director of the CICC. “We at CICC are committed to collaborating more closely with our partners at NTSC and Protecta to draft policy proposals and coordinate enforcement strategies. Together, we aim to close the gaps in legislation and make it harder for these crimes to go unpunished.”

Among those in attendance were representatives from PLDT and Smart, Globe, DITO, Converge, Sky Cable, and Radius Telecoms. The meeting was also supported by senior leaders from the PLDT and Smart Asset Protection & Security Risk Governance (APSRG) Group, led by JC Oliver.

The NTSC, spearheaded by the PLDT APSRG team in June 2021 for the mutual protection of telco infrastructure nationwide, is an industry-wide alliance of corporate security professionals representing the country’s major telecommunications companies, including PLDT, Smart, Globe Telecom, DITO, Converge ICT Solutions, ABS-CBN/Sky Cable, tower companies, and other stakeholders.

Meanwhile, Protecta Pilipinas is a government and private sector alliance dedicated to safeguarding the country's telecommunications infrastructure. Among its members are the CICC, the Philippine Chamber of Telecommunications Operators (PCTO), the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group (PNP ACG), JuanHand, the Federation of International Cable TV and Telecommunications Associations of the Philippines (FICTAP), the ICT Industry Council of the Philippines, PLDT and Smart, Meralco, Maya, Stratbase, Infrawatch, and CitizenWatch.

These stepped-up asset protection initiatives support PLDT’s mission to deliver reliable service and advance the Philippines' sustainable development by securing critical telco infrastructure and thereby ensuring uninterrupted connectivity for homes, businesses, education, and emergency response. These efforts align with the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, promoting resilient infrastructure and technological progress through strategic security measures and strong community partnerships.