UPDATE: As of 4 p.m. today, Cogeco reported that 90% of its customers’ services have been restored.
Many customers are experiencing service disruptions in Hamilton and the Niagara Region this morning after vandals cut multiple fibre optic cables affecting internet, computer networks, telephone, and cable television services.
Media firm Cogeco, which provides telecommunication services, posted on X (formerly Twitter) shortly after 7 a.m. about an incident where someone climbed a tree to cut three out of five fibre optic cables, causing significant service disruptions.
The vandalism has impacted 911 services, leading Cogeco to recommend that residents keep a cell phone handy for emergencies.
Customers in Hamilton, the Niagara Region, and surrounding areas are experiencing poor or complete loss of services. Cogeco did not specify the number of homes and businesses affected by the disruption.
Tristan, a Cogeco representative, provided updates throughout the day on X as local teams worked to repair the damage.
At 8:55 a.m., Tristan reported that teams were on site to repair the cut fibre cables, which involved splicing approximately 182 fibre optic strands across the three cut cables.
By 11:50 a.m, services had been restored for customers in the Niagara Region with gradual service restoration expected for other areas and a full resolution anticipated by late afternoon.
For those outside Hamilton experiencing poor or intermittent internet service, Cogeco advised clearing browser caches to improve web surfing performance.
For further updates, customers are encouraged to monitor Cogeco’s communication channels.
Photos posted on X by user @cogeco
INthehammer's Editorial Standards and Policies