Fiber Networks Continue Operating
NYC's FiberNet, long-haul providers say service is uninterrupted

August 12, 2001 -- Major fiber optic networks in Manhattan and elsewhere said their infrastructure emerged relatively unscathed from yesterday's terrorist attacks are continuing to carry traffic.
The Internet as a whole fared better than the public phone system as the nation's communications networks were swamped with traffic Tuesday following the disasters in New York and Washington.
Cell phones were particularly ineffective, and major providers said service in the New York area continues to be erratic today.
Operators of major fiber networks say their networks are largely intact.
FiberNet Telecom Group, Inc., a leading provider of metro connectivity in New York, said it was "operating with full service." The company's network connects long-haul fiber routes to nine carrier hotels and 13 large commercial office buildings throughout New York City. The company's network operations center is in Newark, NJ.
"All of the company's carrier hotel facilities and metropolitan transport networks currently are fully operational with uninterrupted commercial power," FiberNet said in a statement. "The company believes that it will be able to maintain service without interruption."
Other major connectivity providers also said their networks were up and running:
"Our network is secure and we are working under routine emergency operations to ensure our network continues to deliver service," WorldCom said in a statement. "We will continue to closely monitor the situation and provide additional updates as appropriate.''
"Level 3 has confirmed that its operations were unaffected by today's tragic events and that its network and technical facilities continue to operate normally," said Kevin J. O'Hara, president and chief operating officer. "The company has implemented standard emergency and security procedures and continues to closely monitor the situation."
Global Crossing issued a similar statement saying it was "open and operational."
Within hours of the terrorist attacks, the main Internet infrastructure in the continental U.S. appeared to be functioning close to normal levels, according to Matrix.Net, which tracks Internet performance.
While there was a "significant performance degradation" of major Internet infrastructure points and Web sites immediately after the collapse of both World Trade Center towers. But the slow of IP traffic returned to near-normal performance levels after an about an hour, Matrix.net said.
While Web users had persistent problems accessing news web sites and some major corporate sites, those logjams were related to extraordinarily heavy traffic and the physical failure of in-house web servers, rather than broader Internet failures.
AT&T, Sprint, BellSouth, and SBC Communications said their networks were operating, but were being stressed by extraordinary call volume.
In much of New Jersey, local phone service was hit-or-miss in the hours immediately after the disasters in New York, while e-mail got through more consistently.
Verizon, which provides local service in the Northeast, said its networks reached twice the normal daily volumes of 115 million calls in New York City and 35 millions calls in the nation's capital.