Cable damage causes more internet disruption
DAMAGE to a subsea cable has been pinpointed as the reason why a number of people in Shetland have lost their broadband connection today (Friday).
It is the second time in less than three months that Faroese Telecom’s SHEFA-2 cable has been damaged, causing internet outages for customers of some providers.
Customers of internet providers like Vodafone and Sky lost connection earlier this afternoon.
BT said its services – BT, EE and Plusnet – are unaffected because it uses back-up cable, which is “operating well and maintaining service for all of our customers on the islands”.
The damage this time is said to be located 1.5 kilometres from Orkney, in a shallow area which has previously experienced problems caused by natural forces such as tides and the current.
However, the cause of the damage has not yet been determined.
Shetland Telecom said because the damage is close to shore, certain preparations will need to be made in Orkney before repairs can commence.
Alcatel Submarine Networks has been instructed to carry out the repair, with more news expected on Monday.
It is understood that the damage occurred on the cable which runs between Orkney and Shetland.
In July a fishing vessel was believed to have damaged the SHEFA-2 cable near Orkney.
Like then, some providers are unaffected by the latest fault on the fibre optic cable, such as BT, but others have lost connection.
There are also reports of bank machines not working on Lerwick’s Commercial Street.
As before, the Freefield Post Office in Lerwick is offline but there is not good enough signal in the area for the 4G back-up.
The SHEFA-2 cable has a number of links – one between Faroe and Shetland, then another from Shetland to Orkney.
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There is then another cable from Orkney to the Scottish mainland.
In July it is understood that some providers were able to re-route through the link from Shetland to Faroe following the damage, which was repaired.
Northern Isles MP Alistair Carmichael said he hoped that the “disruption will be minimal and short-lived”.
“Even so this will be a good test of whether the promises of more responsive communications from telecoms providers following the problems in the summer will be borne out in reality.”
Meanwhile Shetland Telecom said all of its services are running as per normal.
Faroese Telecom has been contacted for a response.
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