There are very few things that make me lose my mind, and an internet outage is one of them. I absolutely cannot afford to lose my internet connectivity because every device in my home, even my smart coffeemaker, runs on it.
The bitter truth about internet outages is that sometimes, we cannot do anything about them. But the good news is that in most cases, it’s our fault, and we can actually resolve the connectivity issues. Here, I’m going to explain some common causes of internet outages. This way, the next time you face an internet outage, you’ll know why it’s happening.
So, let’s start by understanding what an internet outage really is.
What is an Internet Outage?
In simple words, the disruption in your internet services that abruptly halts your online activities like accessing websites, social media platforms, online gaming, etc., is an internet outage.
Internet outages can affect your home, your neighborhood, the city or country you live in, or the entire globe, and you may or may not know about it. However, some reliable internet service providers (ISPs) like Spectrum do not keep their customers in the dark.
For instance, other than calling Spectrum Customer Service to find out about an internet outage in my area, they inform me via “My Spectrum App.”
Now, let’s head to some of the most common causes of internet outages.
Common Causes of Internet Outages:
- Natural Disasters:
Natural disasters like tornados, storms, earthquakes, or floods are major contributors to internet outages. Most times, natural disasters damage or destroy the internet infrastructure and limit its availability. Until those damages are fixed or replaced with new infrastructure, for instance, internet cables, users may experience an unstable internet.
Besides natural disasters, animals can chew internet cables. You might have heard sharks chewing underwater internet cables. Global internet connectivity is largely dependent on underwater internet cables. Sometimes, sharks or marine life can attack or chew these cables and disrupt the internet.
However, this is nothing to worry about because sharks do not attack the internet cables daily. And companies like Google are strengthening the underwater cables with Kevlar.
- Human Error:
We see a lot of skyscrapers with deep foundations around us today. While digging those foundations, workers may damage or destroy underground cables, depriving a neighborhood or a city of internet connection.
In some cases, underground internet cables aren’t very deep. We may accidentally damage them while planting trees in our backyard, as they may be buried just a few feet under the ground. Here, I’d suggest you call 811 before picking up your shovel. They’ll identify safe spots on the ground where no utility cables like internet, TV, phone, gas, water, or electricity exist.
- Faulty Equipment:
Damaged routers, modems, or wiring can result in internet signals not being conveyed properly. Placing the router or modem in a closed space can also hinder internet signals. This obstruction can lead to slow speeds or a complete lack of internet connection.
Another thing that may cause internet outages is the router or modem’s firmware. If we do not update the firmware whenever there’s an update, then their ability to transfer the internet to our devices may drop.
- Cyberattacks:
Internet outages can also occur due to cyberattacks.
Cyber-criminals intentionally attack internet services to cause a disruption. Sometimes, they may attack a specific website and hack it. Or, they may attack your device by installing malware or viruses that may hinder its ability to connect to the internet.
- Internet Service Providers:
In some cases, internet service providers may also disrupt your internet connection. Most internet users experience slow speeds when they’re close to their data limit. This is called bandwidth throttling when your ISPs slow down your connection, so you don’t go overboard. Also, when users access prohibited websites or indulge in illegal activities, ISPs may limit their internet connection.
Sometimes, the number of internet users on a network gets unusually high and ISPs may fail to cater to all of them simultaneously. Resultantly, you may face an internet outage but most times, such outages are short-lived and fixed quickly.
Suggestions to Handle the Internet Outages:
First things first, never purchase an unreliable internet package. Looking into internet services near me will help you find speedy and reliable providers who will almost guarantee that you won’t suffer from an outage.
Whenever you face an internet outage, it’s best to call your ISP at the earliest to find out the reason and rule out the possibility of a scheduled outage or maintenance. If the outage is from their side, then there is no other way except to wait till your connection is restored.
However, if that is not the case, ask your neighbours if the internet outage is limited to your house only. If yes, then check your router, modem, and cables to find the problem.
If nothing works out, you can always use your cellular data or visit a nearby café or a park. There, you’ll find public WiFi for sure. But, make sure to connect a VPN first before using public WiFi because it often contains numerous malware and viruses.
