Oops

[Rik]

El Reg reports that:

BT is still working to restore access to thousands of people and businesses in east London left offline when a tunnel borer cut through fibre cables and copper wire. The problem is also preventing Transport for London from managing its traffic lights.

Contractors working on the Olympic site in Stratford sent a large thrust borer through a deep level BT tunnel on Saturday afternoon. Some 70,000 customers were initially affected. A BT spokeswoman told us: "So far we've managed to restore services to 50,000 homes and business. Work is continuing around the clock to restore service to the remaining affected customers."

I hope the contractor gets the bill.

[Glenn]

It must be chaos around there with no traffic lights working at this time in the evening

[Gary]

Oh can you imagine the faces of those responsible for that one  

[Gary]

It must be chaos around there with no traffic lights working at this time in the evening

Nothing new there then 

[Rik]

Indeed. You'd think that, by now, this sort of thing wouldn't be happening.

[Gary]

Indeed. You'd think that, by now, this sort of thing wouldn't be happening.

if you can by a gadget in Wicks to find cables in your own walls, well you would think they could miss huge copper cores by checking first with something like that? Not one from Wicks though, but maybe............

[Rik]

BT could have told them...

[Simon]

I wonder if something was said which rhymes with clucking bell? 

[Gary]

BT could have told them...

BT tell people things 

[Gary]

I wonder if something was said which rhymes with clucking bell? 

oh I bet the air was blue Simon

[Rik]

They do, or did, have a department specialising in advising contractors about the location of cable ducts and tunnels.

[kinmel]

Transco recently used a borer to lay an new gas supply pipe under my neighbour's garden, according to the operator the tunnelling head has a sensor that warns if it is approaching metal, or water.

His only worry is it won't detect plastic gas pipes !

[Sebby]

I read about this earlier. It sounds like a serious, serious screw up! And BT are helpless in a way until the tunnel is re-built.

[drummer]

This is quite an interesting sociological phenomenon.  Several members of Swimbo's family have been affected by this and they're all completely freaking out about it.

They feel cut off from the world, even though they can use their mobiles to make voice calls and access the interwebby thing.

Not sure what conclusions (if any) can be drawn but I suspect yer average consumer now regards Internet access as essential, rather than optional.

[Sebby]

I agree with you. Not having internet for a couple of hours feels like you're cut off from the world, or it does for me at least.

[Rik]

Thirded. It now has reached the same level as gas, electricity and water - 'essential' to daily life and expected to be working.

[Ray]

Thirded. It now has reached the same level as gas, electricity and water - 'essential' to daily life and expected to be working.

I agree, Rik, I certainly miss it if there is any problem and I can't get on line.

[Rik]

I break into a cold sweat if the lights are off on the router, Ray.

[Ray]

I break into a cold sweat if the lights are off on the router, Ray.

The Network Health Icon for my WHS Console tends to have that effect on me as well, Rik.   

[Rik]

I know just how you feel, Ray.

[David]

I read this earlier in the week and cant recall who was posting about either a disconnection but they were miles away but from what I gather users as far away as Cumbria had been affected....................so it was not just a local thing.
I dont live too far from Stratford and traffic here flows much better without lights as has been proved so many times in the past.

It when the controllers mess about with the phasing.....I know there is a need for this but motorists need more freedom when it comes to this as it has been shown here at a very busy intersection with the A13 that there are less accidents and traffic flows much better with no jams when the lights are out.......strange that isnt it ?

[bobleslie]

No choice but to go slower when the lights are out?

[David]

There is that but also when not being controlled its amazing how many dont rush and actually drive in a way that traffic moves freely I was very surprised.
Perhaps there is too much control by men sitting in front of screens 

[Gary]

They do, or did, have a department specialising in advising contractors about the location of cable ducts and tunnels.

Didnt he do well

[Rik]

 

Well, there's certainly been a breakdown in communications...