Orange network is down due to 'multiple segmentations in the fiber network' [UPDATE]

Orange network, the biggest mobile operator in Romania, is has difficulties all over the country. Many customers a experiencing problems with the signal, both data and voice, starting 15:00 hours. The operator announced on Facebook that is working to solve the problems.

Starting at 15 o’clock, Orange’s voice and data networks stopped working in several localities in the country. The problems were encountered in Bucharest, Satu Mare, Baia Mare, Arad, Galati, Deva, Cluj, Iasi, Brasov and Timisoara, according to the information we have so far. Neither the orange.ro portal could be accessed, except with big delays.

“At the moment, some of our customers are having difficulty accessing voice and data services as well as Orange applications. This situation occurs as a result of multiple segmentation in the fiber optic network. Our colleagues from the Technical Department are already working to fix the problem. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your understanding. We come back as soon as we have news,” the company said on Facebook.

Orange Romania offers mobile, fixed and TV services to more than 10 million customers.

[UPDATE] The company send Business Review the official position on the incident:

“Today, as of 14:34, some of our customers have encountered difficulties accessing voice and data services as well as Orange applications. This situation occurred as a result of several simultaneous cross sections of the main fiber optic buses in the counties of Bistrita-Nasaud, Brasov and Mehedinti. Our technical teams intervened promptly on the ground and resumed services gradually, starting at 16:40. The services returned to normal operating parameters at 17:40. Sections that affected the fiber optic network were caused by landslide in Mehedinti County and civil engineering works, unrelated to the Orange network, in the counties of Brasov and Bistrita-Nasaud. Unfortunately, such situations are not isolated, last year we encountered more than 1,200 fiber-cutting incidents, most of them without impact on the services offered to our customers. As a rule, they do not have the impact of today’s damage, because in the Orange network we use double protection and, in some cases, even triple protection of the fiber optic infrastructure. Today’s exceptional situation has arisen from the fact that all three main fiber optic bus protection rings have been cut simultaneously, leading to the isolation of critical network equipment and platforms. We regret the discomfort created and thank our customers for understanding. “