BT Openreach, which is responsible for ensuring that all rival operators have equality of access to BT's local network (e.g. LLU - Local Loop Unbundling), has today launch a new initiative against cable theft called SmartWater; an invisible solution that can be used to forensically "tag" metal thieves and protect vital UK telecoms infrastructure.

Regular readers will already know that BT has often become the victim of thieves, driven by the recent surge in scrap copper prices, who typically brake into crucial exchanges or junction houses with the aim of stealing its valuable cable. Last year saw an increase of 9% in incidents of deliberate attacks on the BT network

Unfortunately that same copper cable is also used to connect most UK homes and businesses with vital telephone and broadband internet services. It's theft often results in significant service outages, lost revenue for businesses and costs BT millions of pounds each year to repair. £770 million is the estimated cost, across all industries in the UK, for metal theft

BT's almost robotic sounding Metal Theft Taskforce (MTT) today began a major fight back with the roll-out of innovative technology developed by scientists at British company SmartWater. The operation is supported by British Transport Police (BTP) and uses forensic marking and GPS tracking technologies.


The system uses a sophisticated forensic marking liquid that is unique to a particular location. It will be used to mark the outer shell and inner core of BT's cable, along with tools and other equipment. This will allow police to irrefutably identify where any stolen items have come from.

In hot-spot areas SmartWater trap devices will also be deployed to capture criminals red-handed. Any thieves who target Openreach property face being sprayed with the liquid, meaning they will carry evidence of their crime on their skin and clothing wherever they go (we guess they threw out our alternative idea of using RoboCop style automated machine gun turrets).


Teams from SmartWater, BT Security and British Transport Police will also be working with scrap merchants to check for traces of the forensic solution. This will directly target the thieves’ supply chain, making it more and more difficult to sell on stolen goods without detection.

In addition to rolling out SmartWater, Openreach is stepping up mobile patrolling of network sites, introducing new locks for manholes, and working closely with local police forces on dedicated ‘sting’ operations to target metal thieves. Last year, BT worked with Police to achieve over 200 arrests.

The use of this technology by Openreach in North London is apparently already achieving results by reducing the number of network attacks. The system is now being deployed across the UK and we hope it will achieve its aims and help keep us all connected.