G.Network, a broadband internet provider focused on London, England, that mostly uses fiber optic lines, has entered administration (similar to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy) after a potential deal fell through because of rats. According to The Telegraph, the company was £300 million (more than $411 million) in debt and only had 25,000 paying subscribers. Community Fibre was considering acquiring the company’s assets, but decided against it after discovering that its cables suffered from extensive rodent damage. Biodegradable cable covering complicated matters, as they attracted rats.
“Rodents like ducts and they like fibers, which are very tasty,” Community Fibre chief Graeme Oxby told the newspaper. “It’s not something we’ve been particularly interested in because we think it’s got quite a lot of structural issues and would be quite an expensive fix.”
Internet fiber optic cables have layers of protection, including conduits or ducting, casing, and insulation. This makes them robust enough that it would require a power tool to saw through them. However, they’re still no match for rodent teeth. Rats can easily chew through cables, using these protective layers for nesting.
Aside from this, The Telegraph reports that the majority of G.Network’s lines are located under the middle of roads, not sidewalks. This makes repair costly, as the company has to close thoroughfares when it needs to replace damaged fiber. Furthermore, it causes disruption, causing traffic to back up in already congested London.
Community Fiber refused to bid on the company, with Oxby telling the newspaper that it hasn’t even conducted a technical assessment of the distressed broadband firm. He also added that other factors were driving the decision not to acquire its competitor. Because of this, the future of G.Network and its rat-damaged fiber optic network remains unclear.
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