by Michael Walther, Fiber Technician | 27 June 2025
When 26 customers suddenly lost their internet — with no digging or construction going on nearby — we knew we had a real mystery on our hands. This wasn’t a quick fix. It felt more like solving a crime scene.
Our first clue came from an OTDR test, which showed the fault was about 170 meters from the cabinet. With a weak tone on the tracer, we followed the cable route step by step using a locator and a measuring wheel. Everything pointed to that spot — but above ground, nothing looked out of place.
Right as we were about to start digging, a homeowner came by and mentioned he’d just put in a new fence. Something clicked. We dug right there — and bingo. A ground anchor had been driven straight through the duct, cutting the cable clean.
Turns out, the homeowner probably didn’t request a cable locate before digging. The conduit had been installed years ago when the property layout was slightly different. A simple oversight turned into a big (and expensive) problem.
Once service was restored to all 26 customers, we went back and repaired the damaged duct, blew out the broken cable, and restored the site to its original state — one good cable in service, and an empty spare ready for future needs.
This incident was a powerful reminder of a crucial best practice: Always call before you dig! A simple, free cable locate request can prevent significant outages, costly repairs, and major headaches for everyone involved.
Stay tuned for more real-world stories from the field.
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