The Etecsa Territorial Division in Holguin faces a critical situation due to a surge in attacks against its infrastructure. According to official figures from the end of 2025, 27 acts of vandalism were reported in the province. Although the numerical increase seems slight. The financial impact is significant: losses amount to 529,633.71 Cuban pesos (CUP).
Abilio Jiménez López, head of the entity’s General Coordination Department, confirmed that these crimes not only damage state property. Also directly affect citizens’ well-being by disrupting vital voice and data services.
While the overall number increased by only one case compared to the previous year. The territorial analysis reveals alarming trends. First, the city of Holguin has become the epicenter of the problem, with an increase of six incidents.
Likewise, municipalities such as San German and Antilla also showed an upward trend. Conversely, areas like Rafael Freyre, Mayari, Cacocum, Moa, and Gibara managed to reduce crime rates. This disparity confirms that preventative work is bearing fruit in some areas. So it is urgent to strengthen community policing in the provincial capital.
According to the Etecsa report, criminals follow a specific pattern. Focused on stealing materials in high demand on the black market. Specifically, the most frequent methods were:
Theft of downspouts and telephone cables in urban areas.
Also the theft of fiber optic cable, affecting both land routes and cell towers.
Finally the theft of power cables from smart cabinets and cell towers (including critical electrical connections).
In fact, Jiménez López emphasized that the most recent attacks have targeted cell tower infrastructure in the city of Holguin. Leaving entire areas without communication.
The social impact of these thefts is severe. Currently, four cell towers in the city remain out of service. Following the theft of cables and fiber optic cables. As a result, thousands of users in communities such as El Guarro, La Plaquita, Ciudad Jardín, Vista Alegre, and Piedra Blanca lack mobile connectivity.
However, the problem doesn’t end with the theft. The most concerning aspect is that the restoration time has already exceeded three months. “The delay is due to the shortage of resources of all kinds that we face,” explained the manager. The scarcity of connectors, cables, and basic supplies prevents technicians from acting. With the necessary speed, prolonging the outage indefinitely.
Given this situation, the Etecsa Territorial Division reiterates the importance of collective protection. Authorities insist that protecting the facilities is everyone’s responsibility. Since damage to a cable affects the right of an entire community to be connected.
It is imperative to understand that telecommunications infrastructure, although managed by an entity. It fulfills a strictly social and collective function. Deployed in public spaces to guarantee our connectivity. These resources are exposed to the vulnerability of the environment. Making citizen vigilance their primary shield.
It’s not just about protecting cables or equipment, but about safeguarding every family’s right to communicate, work, or receive assistance in an emergency. Ultimately, when vandalism silences a cell tower. It’s not just the company that loses; society itself is isolated. With ordinary citizens paying the highest price by having a service interrupted that is now indispensable for modern life.
Ultimately, the fight against vandalism requires timely reporting and social commitment to safeguard an infrastructure. That is, in essence, the people’s heritage.
By: Daimy Peña Guillén
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