>>http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/06/georgian-woman-cuts-web-access
>
>"It is heavily protected, but landslides or heavy rain may have exposed it to scavengers."
>
>Direct burial, with no conduit. Around here the chipmunks would have a field day.

Cable theft is a growing problem. And they'd happily take the conduit as well.