THE IMPACTS OF FIBRE CABLE VANDALISM ON COMMUNITIES

(silica) cable the size of human mits signals using light The fibre nfrastructure have come under dalism attack in the recent past sm?

any activity where one gains access, with intention to steal ge any part of the fibre cable etrators who gain illegal access nholes to cut the fibre cables At t by thieves who mistake the copper Unlike copper, fibre scrap value Of concern is the a fibre cable is cut, removed , and left somewhere close to p g impact on communities all around the world It is essential to deal with this problem proactively as a responsible business dedicated to the welfare of our external stakeholders Mr Keolebogile Totang, our Filed Services Manager gave an insight on the numerous facets of vandalism, its effects on our communities, and methods to stop it

BoFiNet operates a fibre network that connects villages, towns and cities across the country as well as to customer premises BOFINET as a wholesale provider, carries other telecommunication providers like Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and Public Telephone Operators (PTOs) e instances, there are people liberately cut down the poles carrying fibre to harvest honey The same is done where fires are kindled inside manholes to harvest honey which later burn the infrastructure

These acts of vandalism are widespread across the country. However, the areas that are mostly affected by these acts of vandalism are the greater Gaborone areas which include Old Naledi, Kgale View, A1 route along Gaborone – Lobatse, Lobatse, Gaborone Block 5, 6 & 9, Mogoditshane Lesirane (Tsolamosese), Mogoditshanemetsimotlhabe-Molepolole-Letlhakeng routes, Molepolole, Gabane – Thamaga – kanye route, etc.

What are the impacts of vandalism?

Fibre has the capacity to carry a lot of digital traffic. One can be sure that almost all the digital traffic in Botswana will have traversed BoFiNet fibre and network infrastructure somewhere between the end user and the service provider. These include but limited to banking services, mobile services, retail shops payments and stock management systems, eGov services, social media, etc. When a fibre vandalism or any other fibre cut happens, the economy of the country is affected. Depending on the institutions affected, the security of the country may also be placed at risk.

Even though BoFiNet has built its network to be resilient to failures, there are portions of the network that cannot be protected due to either terrain or location. For example, services going into individual homes or businesses cannot be protected, so the safeguarding of this infrastructure becomes critical.

What are the security measures that BoFiNet has put in place?

To curb the rising acts of vandalism, BoFiNet has come up with the following measures. All BoFiNet and partners contractors are always supposed to carry a job card that authorises them to carry out services on the fibre infrastructure. Normal works will be carried out only during working hours. Only critical faults will be carried out at night. All contractors are supposed to have branded vehicles that bear the BoFiNet Contractor sticker. All individuals on site will be identifiable through their employees’ Identity cards and national identification documents like Omang and passports.

What is your plea to the public?

LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES have been engaged in this exercise. Therefore, anyone who sees any suspicious activities should report immediately to the nearest police station or call our Network Operation Centre (NOC) at +267 3926567. Anyone working on the network infrastructure must always have a job card with them or a valid BoFiNet identity card Whoever fails to produce these should be reported to the law enforcement agencies.

Any perpetrators who are arrested will be charged with the COMMUNICATIONS REGULATORY AUTHORITY ACT, 2012. Some of the penalties that may be meted to someone who has been found guilty of these offenses include a minimum fine of P50,000 and a maximum of one (1) million Pula or a prison sentence of a minimum five (5) years and a maximum 15 years

In conclusion, Mr Totang highlighted that vandalism of fibre cables is a societal problem that affects us all. “As responsible members of our communities, we have a role to play in preventing and addressing vandalism. By raising awareness, engaging with our communities, implementing security measures, and enforcing consequences, we can make a positive impact and help create safer, more vibrant neighbourhoods for everyone.” He urged the public to work together to build a future where vandalism becomes a relic of the past, and let our communities thrive.

Common cybersecurity threats in office environments include phishing attacks, malware infections, ransomware, data breaches, and insider threats Phishing involves deceptive emails or messages attempting to trick employees into revealing sensitive information Malware, including viruses and spyware, can infect systems through malicious downloads or email attachments Ransomware encrypts files, demanding payment for their release Data breaches occur when unauthorised individuals access confidential information, while insider threats involve employees misusing their access privileges necessary for their roles

Security Policies: Develop and enforce cybersecurity policies outlining acceptable use of company resources, data handling, and reporting procedures for security incidents.

Incident Response Plan: Have a welldefined plan in place to respond promptly and effectively to any security incidents, minimizing potential damage and downtime.

What is Colocation?

A service that allows a service provider to rent space on BoFiNet premises and /or infrastructure.

How many colocation services does BoFiNet offer?

BoFiNet offers four (4) colocation services.

What is BoFi Colo?

Renting a 3*3 metre space on a BoFiNet Site.

What is BoFi Tower?

Renting space on a BoFiNet base station tower sRenting rack space within the main shelter, equiped with power supply, back up systems and cooling.

What is BoFi Host?

What is BoFi Combo?

BoFI Combo is a bundled offer, renting space both on the site and base station tower (BoFi Colo+ BoFI Tower).