AT&T links rising copper thefts to higher scrap values, while investing more in network hardening

AT&T said a recent surge in copper cable thefts is stressing parts of its network and is forcing the telecom carrier to devote more attention and spending to physical security, repairs, and resilience planning. The issue is being framed by the company and market coverage as a problem that is not only growing in volume, but also becoming more costly as copper scrap values rise.

The latest reporting ties the theft increase to higher copper values and to broader demand drivers associated with AI data center construction, which can raise overall competition for copper supply and push up prices. Even as AT&T continues its multi-year transition away from copper plant, it still has copper-based components in its wireline footprint that remain exposed to metal theft. (AT&T did not provide a quantified, network-by-network breakdown in the public material reviewed for this story.)

AT&T has previously described copper theft and vandalism as a national problem that is particularly concentrated in California, Texas, and Missouri, and it has offered rewards for tips leading to arrests and convictions. On its own copper-theft information page, AT&T said it is offering rewards up to $20,000 depending on the state and the type of information provided, and it described how the repair process can be slowed by sourcing challenges for replacement equipment and parts.

AT&T’s efforts also emphasize preventing outages tied to theft-related damage. AT&T’s network-resilience discussion highlights layered redundancy across its physical footprint, including backup power at critical locations and additional “tertiary” connections meant to keep aggregation hubs operational even if a primary site goes down. That same resilience framework includes strengthening anti-theft measures, including locking and welding manhole lids, adding traceable markings, and deploying sensors and surveillance aimed at reducing service disruptions.

AT&T has also shared concrete figures about the scale of the threat. Light Reading, citing AT&T disclosures, reported that AT&T logged more than 10,400 copper theft incidents in 2025, with estimated losses of about $82 million, and that California accounted for the majority of incidents. Light Reading also reported AT&T characterizing the theft activity as increasingly organized, rather than purely opportunistic, citing the use of heavy machinery and coordinated thefts.

AT&T’s capital allocation priorities are shaped by the tension between securing remaining copper assets and funding the build-out of newer infrastructure. In its 2024 Analyst and Investor Day materials, AT&T said it expects to reach 50 million or more fiber locations by the end of 2029 and to largely exit its legacy copper network operations across most of its wireline footprint by the end of 2029. The company’s longer-term plan therefore treats copper hardening as a near-term requirement, while the bulk of spending shifts toward fiber expansion and wireless capacity.

Industry context suggests why copper theft can worsen even for firms that are reducing exposure to copper. S&P Global has described copper as essential to electrification tied to AI and data centers, forecasting that data center and AI-related copper demand for power access could rise meaningfully over time. Separately, local reporting in Missouri has described copper thefts rising as copper prices increase, and it quoted an AT&T investigator linking the problem to the metal’s rising value and the disruption created when cables are cut down.

What remains unclear is how much of the theft surge can be directly attributed to AI-related changes in copper demand, as opposed to the more immediate link between commodity pricing and scrap incentives. AT&T did not disclose, in the materials reviewed for this story, a forward estimate for 2026 repair costs tied to the “AI data center” narrative, nor did it specify which exact network segments were most affected by the latest wave. Investors and customers will likely watch for more detailed updates through quarterly filings and investor communications, particularly if repair delays or outage impacts show up in operating metrics.