GEORGETOWN, Texas — Some Optimum customers in Georgetown were without internet service Monday morning after the company said criminals damaged its fiber-optic network overnight.
The damage occurred near I-35 and Northwest Boulevard in the early morning hours, according to Optimum. The company said its crews are working on repairs and that a police report has been filed.
“We sincerely apologize to our customers who are experiencing an internet service disruption,” Optimum said in a statement. “Our teams responded immediately and are currently working to restore service after our network was deliberately damaged by criminal activity. We appreciate our customers’ patience and urge the community to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to local authorities.”
The Georgetown Police Department said the outage affected around 20,000 customers and also disrupted service for T-Mobile customers. Authorities believe the damage exceeds $100,000.
“Detectives are reviewing available evidence, including surveillance footage, and are working to identify the individual or individuals responsible,” police said. “At this time, we are not releasing additional investigative details to protect the integrity of the investigation.”
Optimum said the attack appears linked to a broader trend of thieves targeting telecommunications infrastructure in search of copper to sell illegally. The company noted its fiber-optic lines do not contain copper and have no resale value once cut, but said the damage still knocks out service and can pose safety risks.
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Cut fiber cables are often abandoned at the scene, the company said, leaving exposed wires and unstable equipment behind.
Restoring fiber-optic service is a delicate process, according to Optimum.
Optimum warned that such attacks can disrupt essential services, including 911 emergency calling, and said the incident underscores a growing challenge for utility and telecom providers.
The company is asking residents and businesses to watch for unmarked vehicles or people working near infrastructure without proper identification, and to report anyone who cannot provide official credentials or appears out of place to local authorities.
“We recognize the significant inconvenience this incident has caused residents and businesses, and we appreciate the patience of our community as service providers continue restoration efforts while our investigators work to identify those responsible,” police said.
Customers can also report suspicious activity directly to Optimum through 24/7 chat support at Optimum.com or through the My Optimum app, which will notify the company’s security operations team, Optimum said.
Optimum did not immediately provide a timeline for when service would be fully restored.
