Texas Internet Apocalypse! Stray Bullet Knocks Out Spectrum for Thousands
Thousands of Spectrum customers in North and Central Texas experienced a sudden internet outage last week, leaving them without phone, TV, and internet services. The culprit? A single bullet.
The outage, which affected cities including Dallas, Irving, Plano, Arlington, Austin, and San Antonio, left approximately 25,000 customers disconnected for several hours. Frustrated users took to social media platforms like Reddit to express their annoyance, with one user commenting, "Right in the middle of my meetings 😒."
Spectrum confirmed the cause of the outage, stating that a stray bullet had struck a fiber optic cable. "The outage stemmed from a fiber optic cable that was damaged by a stray bullet," Spectrum told 404 Media. "Our teams worked quickly to make the necessary repairs and get customers back online. We apologize for the inconvenience."
While Spectrum provided limited details about the incident, questions remain unanswered regarding how the company determined the cause, where the bullet was found, and whether law enforcement is involved. The vastness of Texas and the overlapping jurisdictions make investigating the specific shooting incident challenging.
Fiber optic cables are often buried underground for protection, but portions are sometimes strung along telephone poles, making them vulnerable to damage. This incident highlights the potential physical vulnerabilities of internet infrastructure.
According to Downdetector, outage reports peaked around 1:43 p.m. CT, with over 25,000 reports. Spectrum acknowledged the issue on X (formerly Twitter), stating they were working to restore services as quickly as possible.
What Caused the Spectrum Outage in Texas?
The outage was caused by a stray bullet hitting a fiber optic cable.
How Many Customers Were Affected?
Approximately 25,000 Spectrum customers were affected by the outage.
When Did the Outage Occur?
The outage occurred last week, with reports peaking around 1:43 p.m. CT on Friday, September 26th.
Is Spectrum Service Fully Restored?
Yes, Spectrum reported that services were restored after teams worked to repair the damaged fiber optic cable.