BT repairing Kent network after copper theft

BT said its engineers are scrambling to fix the company's network in Kent after several lengths of copper cable were stolen last week, disrupting phone and broadband connectivity for over a thousand customers.

According to the telecoms and IT company, six cables were cut in five places in the Farningham area, and nearly three kilometres of copper cabling are being replaced. Around 1,400 customers were hit by the theft, which was first reported at around 11pm on 21 April, according to BT.

Service has now been restored to most of those affected, the company said on Monday.

"Our engineers are working round the clock to repair extensive damage," BT said. "It is a very complex and time-consuming repair job. We are doing all we can to restore services as quickly as possible."

The company noted that copper theft is on the rise. BT added that it has "been the victim of a number of incidents of copper theft", sometimes leading to service problems.

"BT treats copper theft as a serious criminal matter and works with local police to combat the problem," the company said. "It is not only a problem for BT, but for phone and broadband users around the UK, so we would urge the public to remain vigilant and report anything suspicious to the police."