The Internet & Television Association has released a report highlighting a growing problem affecting internet infrastructure across the United States. According to the report, there were 18,327 incidents of theft and vandalism targeting network infrastructure, impacting internet connectivity for nearly 12 million people.

The figures translate to an average of 1,527 incidents per month or around 50 incidents every day. The situation is worsening, with reported incidents increasing by 59% compared to 2024.

In response, the three largest US carriers — AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon — have joined the STRIKE initiative. STRIKE, which stands for Strategic Threat Response & Infrastructure Knowledge Exchange, is designed to help service providers coordinate efforts and improve protection of critical communications infrastructure.

Copper cables remain a primary target for thieves because of the resale value of the metal. However, fiber-optic networks are also being affected, with vandals deliberately cutting cables and causing widespread service outages.

Industry leaders argue that such attacks should be treated more seriously, with some calling for acts of deliberate network sabotage to be classified as terrorism due to their potential impact on hospitals, schools, emergency services, and public communications.

Much of the aging copper-based infrastructure was installed years ago and has suffered from limited maintenance over time. The growing number of theft and vandalism incidents is accelerating the shift toward fiber-optic networks, which have no significant scrap value and offer substantially faster internet speeds.

As attacks on network infrastructure continue to rise, service providers are increasing efforts to secure existing systems while investing in newer fiber deployments that are less attractive to criminals and more capable of meeting modern connectivity demands.