Canadian telcos are holding billions of dollars’ worth of copper wire as they transition to fibre-optic networks, but rising copper prices have made the metal an increasingly valuable target for thieves.
According to a report from The Logic, Telus alone expects to generate a whopping $500 million from selling decommissioned copper over the next five years as part of its “green copper urban mining initiative.” The company has already removed more than 4,000 tonnes of copper and nearly doubled its “other income” category between 2023 and 2024, thanks to copper sales.
Globally, the telecom industry is projected to make $10 billion US from recycled copper over the next 15 years, which is no small chunk of change.
Bell says it has nearly 637,000 kilometres of copper wiring. But it notes the value isn’t as optimistic about its profitability. The company often repurposes old copper for repairs, though theft has become a growing concern. Bell reports that 88% of physical security incidents affecting its network involve copper theft, with cases surging 78% from 2023 to 2024.
Bell’s networks in Ontario and New Brunswick have been hit hardest, with thieves boldly posing as workers in high-visibility gear to remove copper undetected (even down to driving a white truck with a yellow light). We’ve previously heard of Bell setting up booby traps to target thieves, but it’s clear that alone isn’t working.
In Hamilton, reported copper thefts jumped from 40 cases in 2022 to 119 in 2023. Some incidents have caused serious disruptions, including a $30,000 repair at Miramichi Airport in New Brunswick for copper that was worth only $100 to the thieves.
Rogers mainly has a hybrid fibre-coaxial network. It says it doesn’t expect to make significant money from decommissioned copper. Rogers has also been affected by vandalism targeting copper wiring, which seems to be irresistible to thieves at the moment.
Telecoms are pushing for harsher penalties for copper theft, including a Criminal Code amendment to make damaging critical infrastructure a more serious offense. But for now, it doesn’t seem like any changes in the law are coming and thefts are continuing.
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