Over 10,000 cable, broadband operators protest against cable untangling drive in Hyderabad

More than 10,000 cable and broadband operators from across Telangana staged a protest at Indira Park on Saturday (September 13, 2025) against the indiscriminate cutting of overhead cables, which has left large parts of Hyderabad without broadband and television, and has now hit mobile services.

The agitation came over three weeks into the ongoing cable clean-up drive, which has disrupted services for an estimated 70-80 lakh subscribers across 20 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the city.

Protesters demanded an immediate halt to the cutting of cables, consultations with the government and stakeholders, and a long-term, sustainable solution to safeguard broadband and internet connectivity.

They argued that a cable network built over the last 35-40 years cannot simply be dismantled overnight, adding that the move has caused widespread inconvenience to customers, including government offices, and overwhelmed their complaint portals with grievances.

Federation of Aerial Cable Operators (FACO) president Satish Babu said they had already submitted a proposal to the government to bring all operators under one umbrella, as part of the T-Fibre model, along with the commercials. “We are also open to other solutions, including underground ducts or a single cable across each road, depending on the budget,” he said.

Several subscribers passing by also voiced their frustration over the crisis. Some also took to the stage to share their experiences. Surekha, a resident who stopped at the protest site, said that customers were being forced to suffer because of the standoff between cable operators and the government.