Lakhs left stranded in digital spaces as internet and TV blackout continues in Hyderabad for second day

For the second day, Hyderabad reeled under a massive internet and cable TV blackout after TGSPDCL staff indiscriminately cut wires from power poles. Over one lakh connections were disrupted, hitting work-from-home users, TV viewers, and UPI payment services across the city.

Hyderabad: Lakhs of people continued to face a total outage of internet and cable TV services on Wednesday, as reports emerged that ground staff of the power supply department indiscriminately cut cable and internet wires across Hyderabad.

By Wednesday evening, rough estimates indicated that more than 1,00,000 internet connections in Hyderabad and surrounding areas were disrupted after personnel of the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company (TGSPDCL) wielded industry-grade wire cutters to chop cables attached to electricity poles.

The massive outrage among citizens, who were left stranded in the digital space, appeared to have little impact on TGSPDCL authorities, who seemed determined to enforce what many described as a forced digital detox.

The drastic action was linked to the electrocution of six people during a religious procession in Ramanthapur on Monday. Despite widespread criticism on social media from affected residents, the authorities pressed on with their cable-cutting drive.

The disruptions caused severe inconvenience, particularly to people working from home and those dependent on TV channels on IPTV platforms.

Digital payments also took a hit, with many customers struggling to complete UPI transactions. Even when payments went through, merchants found it difficult to verify receipts, leading to arguments between customers and shopkeepers.

Surprisingly, no official statement was issued on the crisis, which impacted nearly every household in the city where UPI payments are the norm, even for small purchases like tea.

While not officially confirmed, reports indicated that TGSPDCL field staff extended their cable-cutting operations to Gachibowli, Kondapur, Miyapur, and nearby areas, as well as some districts.

Internet service providers (ISPs) that had rented electrical poles from the power department were the worst affected. Companies that had installed their own poles suffered disruptions too, though to a lesser extent.

“The TGSPDCL field staff do not know the difference between cable TV and internet wires and are cutting everything. We have urged the authorities to exercise restraint. At present, they maintain that ISPs can carry out repairs wherever lines are affected,” an official from an internet company said.

An industry veteran acknowledged that there was no clear timeline for restoration.
“We understand that some ISPs have taken legal recourse to stop the indiscriminate cutting of wires. We are trying our best to restore services at the earliest,” he said.