Why Fiber Internet Could Experience Outages

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. Construction Errors and Vandalism Incidents

Often, service interruptions stem from unintentional human mistakes — especially during construction.

• Accidental damage: Fiber cables can occasionally be cut by construction, landscaping or digging crews during work.
  • MidSouth responds to all requests for utility service underground locations usually within 24 hours, with identifiable markings.
    • Always call 811 before digging to ensure underground lines are marked properly, to avoid damage and potentially danger.
  • Overhead fiber lines may be brought down by oversized loads traveling underneath, or vehicular accidents involving pole attachments. This scenario requires emergency services to evaluate and clear the scene prior to restoration. 
• Vandalism as a criminal act: Some outages result from intentional damage, like cable theft or severed lines and even gun shots towards equipment. Vandalism against fiber cables disrupts service, costs small businesses money and affects entire communities.
  • Additional vandalism also includes hunters shooting at animals perched on overhead lines. Because fiber lines and electrical lines are hung close together, not only is this practice dangerous to the assailant, but to others in the area as well.

2. 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 related 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 followed closely by fiber restoration. 

These highlight that whether by mistake or malice, fiber infrastructure can be compromised—but such events are still uncommon.

3. Equipment Issues and Power Outages

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

• Equipment issues: While robust, routers or connection hardware occasionally fail and may require a reboot or technician 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, require electricity. A local power disruption could mean a temporary loss of service — even if the fiber line remains intact. Back-up battery power banks can often keep you online temporarily if fiber cable is still intact.

4. Maintenance and Network Adjustments

Routine or emergency network updates and repairs can also result in minor 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 email communications from MidSouth Fiber — all maintenance notifications are communicated ahead of time via email with precise dates and times so you can plan ahead.
• Unplanned repairs: Should infrastructure issues arise (e.g., hidden cable damage), networks can require short periods offline to diagnose and resolve problems.

Why Fiber Outages 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. 
• Weather resistance: Unlike satellite connections that easily weaken in heavy storms, high winds or cloud cover, fiber internet delivers consistent performance in most weather conditions. 
• Quick restoration: he advanced technology built into MidSouth’s fiber networks allows technicians to pinpoint the source of interferences quickly, reducing diagnostic time and speeding up repairs. 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 tips may be helpful: 

• 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 sure to report your outage by calling 936-243-4237. MidSouth considers our fiber internet to be a critical service. Rest assured, we will not stop restoration efforts until each subscriber is back online.
• We are always here, contact our 24/7 technical support line, night or day.

In Summary

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