Hyderabad: After weeks of frequent internet outages across the city, service providers and electricity authorities have begun coordinated efforts to restore normalcy. The disruptions began after the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TGSPDCL) cut down fiber cables following a series of electrocution incidents during religious festivals.
The crisis emerged after nearly 10 people were electrocuted in August during festivals like Janmashtami and Ganesh Chaturthi, leading to two fatalities. Officials claimed that the presence of dangling internet cables on electricity poles created hazardous conditions, prompting TGSPDCL to act. While the Department of Telecommunications guidelines mandate safe cable routing, ISPs had reportedly left long cables unsecured.
The sudden removal of fiber lines, however, crippled internet connectivity across Hyderabad, affecting households, offices, startups, and IT-enabled industries. Students attending online classes and job seekers appearing for interviews were among the worst-hit.
AIFISPA and TGSPDCL Seek Middle Ground
On September 11, TGSPDCL CMD Musharaff Faruqi convened a meeting with internet service providers to resolve the crisis. Following the talks, ISPs agreed to provide manpower to help the power department ensure safe fiber routing across the city.
AIFISPA spokesperson Harpreet Singh Kainth acknowledged that public safety must be the priority but urged authorities to avoid blanket cable cuts. “The disruption has affected thousands of households and businesses that rely on stable connectivity. We support safe practices but request adherence to due process,” he said.
Impact on Daily Life
The outages have highlighted Hyderabad’s dependence on uninterrupted internet connectivity. IT professionals working from home, small businesses relying on digital payments, and students engaged in e-learning have faced prolonged difficulties.
Civic groups have also demanded a long-term plan to regulate cable installations, stressing that both public safety and connectivity must go hand in hand. Similar incidents in other cities have previously prompted the Ministry of Power and telecom bodies to issue joint safety protocols, which need stricter enforcement in Hyderabad.
Way Forward
As the fiber restoration work continues, AIFISPA has assured that member ISPs are cooperating fully with TGSPDCL. Authorities are expected to lay down fresh guidelines on cable management to prevent similar disruptions in the future.
For citizens, the priority remains the swift resumption of services, with calls for better coordination between electricity boards and internet providers. Until then, Hyderabad continues to experience patchy connectivity despite being a major IT hub.