AT&T has announced it will offer cash rewards in an effort to step up its fight against copper theft.

The carrier said it will offer rewards of up to $20,000 for tips that lead to the arrest and conviction of individuals involved in copper cable theft or its attempted sale in California.

The issue of copper theft has been a struggle for telcos for years, with AT&T among those feeling the strain.

It can lead to network outages and costly bills for the carriers that have to fix their networks, while damage to the copper can lead to issues contacting the emergency services.

Between June and December 2024, the US telecommunications industry experienced nearly 6,000 reported incidents of copper theft and infrastructure vandalism nationwide.

So far this year, AT&T highlighted California as a hotspot for copper theft, reporting 1,800 incidents this year alone.

Despite copper being a legacy network, millions across the US still rely on the service.

In order to fight back against the theft of copper, AT&T said that it has increased network hardening efforts. This has included enhancements to manhole security, traceable marking and paint on copper wiring, and surveillance and sensor technology.

The carrier added that it's working closely with state officials, law enforcement, and others impacted through data sharing, public safety bulletins, and civil litigation.

AT&T also revealed that it has filed a lawsuit against Northern California recycler Alco Iron & Metal after investigations revealed a history of illegally purchasing stolen copper.

“Copper theft is a serious issue for California communities,” said Susan Santana, president of AT&T California. “It can disrupt 911 service, Internet access, and other critical communications services. We’ve been on the front lines of this fight for years, whether hardening our infrastructure or partnering with law enforcement to hold criminals accountable. Today, we’re building on that momentum with even more aggressive measures to protect Californians and the essential services on which they rely."

AT&T added that it is offering similar cash rewards of $10,000 in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and in Missouri.

In July, AT&T told the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that it would not replace copper cable that was stolen back in May in Houston, Texas, after 872 feet of copper cable was stolen. At the time, the telco said it didn't make economic sense to replace the cable, valued at around $25,000 to replace.

The carrier has outlined plans to retire its copper network by 2029, amid the company's major fiber build-out across the US.

AT&T notably signed a $850 million sale-leaseback deal earlier this year to sell a portfolio of Central Offices at more than 70 properties across the US.

AT&T told DCD earlier in the year that it spends $6 billion annually to keep its copper services running, a figure that it wants to cut down and invest in future technologies.

DCD covered the issue of theft of telecoms infrastructure in the latest issue of DCD Magazine. Read about it here.