Playa del Carmen, Q.R. — Public service employees have removed a multi-block long cable found installed illegally. The cable was found during an inspection in the Bosque Real residential area earlier this month.
Julieta Martín Azueta from Playa del Carmen Municipal Public Services, said the cable was taken down by the city when they learned it was unauthorized. She said by law, those types of wires must be installed in an underground system.
According to Martín Azueta, this latest finding of illegally installed wires adds to a series of irregularities reported mostly by citizens in recent months. She says a majority of the illegally installed wires are by telecommunications companies operating without permits.
The latest finding was made earlier this month during an inspection at which time municipal personnel confirmed a company had installed cables on streetlight poles, crossing streets and connecting directly to the city’s electrical infrastructure without authorization.
Since there was no official record of the installation, Playa del Carmen public workers removed the cable. Martín Azueta explained that these types of installations violate current urban regulations, which in areas like Bosque Real, require underground lines.
She also said that companies wishing to offer services must first obtain authorization from the Ministry of Public Works, followed by technical validation from Public Services.
“This isn’t a simple administrative procedure, it’s about avoiding impacts on safety and the urban image and ensuring the quality of service. During hurricane season, underground cabling allows for faster and safer reconnection. Companies must understand that these regulations are not optional,” she explained.
She said these types of illegal installation practices have increased among startup companies who want to avoid official processes which, in addition to being illegal, puts public infrastructure at risk.
This month, Hernán González, the Secretary of Sustainable Territorial Planning, said the city’s plan to eliminate overhead wiring in Playa del Carmen.
