Thieves snatch internet gear

By PETER GRIFFIN

A smash-and-grab raid has cost wireless internet provider Safetynet valuable equipment and delayed expansion plans.

Thieves smashed their way into the company's Queen St web server facility to steal Cisco VoIP (voice over internet protocol) equipment worth up to $100,000.

Director Prakash Pandey said the theft had put plans to move customers on to a new VoIP network back by months.

"This is not off-the-shelf stuff, it can't be replaced overnight. It will take months."

Although the building was covered by cameras and a security company, the thieves managed to escape with the equipment unchallenged, he said. Safetynet, however, had no alarm.

"We didn't put an alarm in because staff are coming and going all the time and it would create a lot of hassle."

Safetynet has put its technology partner Cisco on alert should the equipment turn up locally.

But Mr Pandey said it would probably be smuggled out of the country.

"They could use it in the islands to set up a small telco. You could run a very powerful internet service provider with that equipment."

The company's other services, including web hosting and development, high-speed internet access and IT consultancy, were not affected by the theft.