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Briefs: Copper-wire thefts vex Telecom Namibia
Telecom Namibia will be accelerating development of fiber-optics and satellite technology to thwart the chronic theft of copper wire.
Several miles of phone line disappeared in rural regions of the African nation, prompting the national telecom company to look to technologies that have no real value to thieves.
The thefts have prompted Telecom Namibia to introduce more wireless and satellite technology along with non-copper wiring wherever possible, the newspaper New Era reported.
A spokesman said Thursday that the company was beefing up security and replacing rural phone lines with wires made of a low-copper alloy that cannot be readily melted down.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International