Why Fiber Internet Could Experience Service Interruptions

Did you know fiber internet networks boast an average uptime of approximately 99.9%, indicating outages are extremely uncommon? Fiber service is recognized for its outstanding reliability, but even this highly dependable system is not entirely free from interruptions. In this blog, we’ll look at why internet interruptions might happen, how unlikely they are and what factors can cause them. 

1. Severe Weather and Natural Disasters

One of the most common causes of fiber-related outages is extreme weather. 

• Storm Damage: Severe weather events such as high winds, lightning or falling trees can impact fiber lines and other infrastructure, leading to outages. 

• Hurricanes and tropical systems: These storms can cause widespread destruction, resulting in significant electric and internet service disruptions.  

• • MidSouth crews will always work safely and diligently to restore power first and then immediately transition to internet restoration during these events. 

2. Construction Errors and Vandalism Incidents

Some service interruptions stem from unexpected human mistakes — especially during construction. 

• Accidental damage: Fiber cables can occasionally be cut by construction, landscaping or digging crews during work. 

• • MidSouth works with contractors and uses clear marking to help prevent these incidents, but other companies or individuals may disregard flagging.  

• • • Always call 811 before digging to ensure underground lines are marked properly.  

• Vandalism as a criminal act: Some outages result from intentional damage, like cable theft or cuts. Vandalism against fiber cables disrupts service and affects entire communities.  

3. Equipment Issues and Power Outages

Though the fiber line itself is resilient, the supporting infrastructure sometimes isn’t. 

• Equipment issues: While robust, routers or connection hardware occasionally fail and may require a reboot or technician’s visit. MidSouth recommends rebooting your router or checking cord connections as a first step after a suspected issue. 

• Power outages: Fiber equipment, including routers and network nodes, needs power. A local power disruption could mean a temporary loss of service — even if the fiber line remains intact. 

4. Maintenance and Network Adjustments

Routine or emergency network work can also result in service interruptions: 

• Planned maintenance: Scheduled repairs, upgrades or maintenance to fiber infrastructure can cause brief outages. MidSouth schedules non-urgent maintenance overnight to minimize internet disruption.  

• • Don’t forget to opt in for communications from MidSouth Fiber for all updates — all maintenance notifications are communicated ahead of time via email.  

• Unplanned fixes: Should infrastructure issues arise (e.g., hidden cable damage), networks sometimes need short periods offline to diagnose and resolve the problem. 

Why Fiber Interruptions Are Rare and Why That Matters 

Here’s why fiber internet disruptions are uncommon compared to other internet alternatives: 

• Redundancy: Most networks are built with multiple, independent routes so if one line is damaged, traffic is rerouted without noticeable slowdown or service interruption. (AP News) 

• Durability: Fiber is less prone to interference than copper wiring and is especially reliable when buried safely or protected. 

• Quick restoration: Even when outages occur, MidSouth Fiber technicians restore service swiftly thanks to clear protocols and dedicated crews. 

Tips for Troubleshooting Fiber Outages 

If you ever experience service interruption with fiber these steps help: 

• Double-check power cables, connections and router status. 

• Try a router reboot — simple restarts often resolve transient issues. 

• If there’s a known storm or nearby construction, be patient — crews may be fixing it. During storms, MidSouth prioritizes safety restoring power first, then connectivity. 

• For persistent issues, contact our 24/7 technical support line. 

In Summary 

While fiber internet boasts near-perfect reliability, internet outages can still happen due to nature, human error, equipment issues or maintenance. The good news? MidSouth Fiber’s network is built to handle such challenges with top-of-the-line infrastructure and fast recovery protocols.