Beaufort Struggles with Internet Outage: Mayor Calls for Improved Network Resilience

Beaufort Struggles with Internet Outage: Mayor Calls for Improved Network Resilience

Beaufort, South Carolina – Residents of Beaufort faced significant disruptions after a major internet outage on September 24, 2024, which lasted approximately ten hours. The outage, affecting thousands of customers from Hargray Internet, was triggered by damage to fiber optic lines caused by a third party.

Impact of the Outage

The fallout from the outage highlighted the critical role of reliable internet in today’s economy. Mayor Phil Cromer emphasized the consequences of such network failures on local businesses, emergency services, and community functions. “Internet outages, whether caused by severed fiber cable, natural disasters, or cyberattacks, can literally paralyze communities, businesses, and essential services,” Cromer stated.

Details of the Incident

According to Hargray, which is owned by Cable One, this incident involved unexpected damage to both their primary and redundant fiber optic lines at four different locations. Technicians worked diligently through the night to restore service. By the next day, internet service was back up and running, but the damage had already been done.

Community Response

Over the past weeks, Mayor Cromer has been vocal about the need for more robust network solutions. He expressed a desire to meet with Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to discuss current redundancy efforts and how to enhance system resilience. “I would welcome a meeting with ISPs to share their current redundancy efforts and plans for future resiliency of their networks,” he said.

Next Steps for ISPs

Despite the mayor’s outreach, he noted that he has not yet received any responses from ISPs regarding these discussions. This lack of communication raises concerns among residents about the preparation of local internet services to handle future disruptions.

Customer Compensation

In an effort to ease the frustration caused by the outage, Hargray announced that affected customers would receive credits on their upcoming monthly bills. This gesture aims to acknowledge the impact of the service disruption, which some residents experienced at critical times.

The Bigger Picture

The incident underscores a broader need for network improvement, especially in coastal areas prone to severe weather conditions and other external threats. Mayor Cromer’s comments resonate with a pressing concern that many communities are feeling—the urgent need for enhanced infrastructure to prevent similar outages from happening in the future.

Conclusion

As Beaufort moves forward, the focus will remain on ensuring reliable internet service for its residents. Discussions about network redundancy and the involvement of ISPs will be crucial in shaping a more resilient digital future for this coastal community.