Gurgaon: Struggling to provide uninterrupted broadband service in many areas of Gurgaon, leading telecom company Airtel has accused a local internet service provider of repeatedly damaging its infrastructure. An FIR has been lodged against the accused for stealing underground Airtel cables, police said.
Airtel officials claimed for the past one month their optical fibre network was repeatedly damaged by the accused, leading to disruption in broadband service. Recently the accused person was also captured on CCTV indulging in such acts in an area.
OP Galhotra, group director (security) of Bharti Airtel, said, “Of late, we have come across several incidents of deliberate damage to our fiber assets in parts of NCR. For us, delivering an exceptional customer experience is what we work for. It is, therefore, especially hurtful to see these deliberate attempts to inconvenience our customers who are studying or working from home.”
He said during lockdown people were more dependent on the internet for work from home or remote schooling. “Due to disruption in service, many children are facing problems in attending schools in this exam season and those who are working from home are also facing problems. So, we have urged the authorities to take strict action against those involved in this sabotage.”
On the basis of the complaint filed by the company, a case has been registered under Section 379 (theft) of IPC against the unnamed accused at the New Colony police station. “Cops are scanning the CCTV footage and investigation is in progress,” said Gurgaon police spokesperson Subhash Boken.