6 Major Causes of Internet Outages

There are times when we can’t access the internet. It is called an internet outage.

Internet outages are not limited to your neighborhood and city; they may affect any place at any time. However, there is always a reason why internet outages occur, and in this article, I’m going to discuss them below.

So, if you want to know what factors cause the internet outage, read on:

Common Causes of Internet Outages

Planned Outages:

Sometimes, your ISP may be the reason for an internet outage. In capped data plans, the ISPs may throttle the users’ internet when they reach the allocated data limit. As a result, the users may face internet outages or slow speeds.

Similarly, ISPs may also throttle the internet connection to handle the increasing traffic on a network. However, such outages may be brief and fixed quickly.

Rarely, but ISPs may limit users’ connections if they frequently visit or indulge in illegal websites or activities on the internet.

Another potential reason for the planned outage is when ISPs expand their infrastructure or conduct regular maintenance, the users in a specific area may face internet outages.

However, note that some reliable ISPs may also inform their customers about planned outages. For instance, my internet provider, Xfinity, offers proactive outage notifications. Plus, I can consult the 24/7 Xfinity customer service to get more information on the outage.

Equipment Issues:

Internet equipment such as routers, modems, or network cables is responsible for the seamless delivery of the Internet to our homes and offices. And, there’s a probability that you may face limited internet connectivity or outages if any of the equipment is faulty.

Another factor that may contribute to internet outages is router placement. Ideally, your router should be placed away from heavy furniture or thick walls. Otherwise, these objects may obstruct the internet signals’ path and lead to limited connectivity or frequent outages.

Also, if your router or modem is not updated frequently, then it may also affect your internet connection.

Cyber Security Attacks:

Cyberattacks can also disrupt internet services as the hackers may intentionally attack a user’s system. They may install malware or viruses, such as a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack, to overwhelm the servers and limit the user’s internet access.

That said, hackers’ primary target may be the ISPs, as they steal users’ data or breach network security. Under such circumstances, ISPs may halt their services temporarily to counter the cyberattack. Consequently, users at large scale may face limited connectivity or internet outages.

Natural Disasters:

Natural disasters are one of the biggest contributors to internet outages. Tornadoes, storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods may damage or destroy the internet infrastructure.

It may take some time for ISPs to rebuild the infrastructure or fix the damages. Till then, internet users may experience slow internet speeds, limited connectivity, or internet outage for a prolonged period.

Human Errors:

Sometimes, human errors may be the reason for an internet outage. Usually, the utility cables such as the internet, TV, phone, water, or gas lines may be laid underground. In the case of house constructions or skyscrapers, these cables may be damaged or destroyed.

Also, some cables may not be laid so deep, and even a simple tree plantation in your backyard may damage them. That said, I’d suggest you call 811 before planning any plantation activity. They will identify the secure spots for digging where there are no underground cables.

Animal Attacks:

Although a rarity, animal attacks may deprive us of internet connectivity. Most people may not know, but the global internet infrastructure is largely dependent on undersea internet cables. And, it’s a possibility that marine life may attack the internet infrastructure.

Google once confirmed that the internet cables were chewed by the sharks. Besides sharks, birds and squirrels may also attack the cables and damage them.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):