Charleston, S.C. — September 30, 2025
AT&T has confirmed that a widespread broadband outage disrupted internet services for thousands of customers across the Charleston area on Tuesday, following a fiber cut caused by a third-party provider.
According to AT&T spokesperson Eric Onyechefule, the issue originated from outside the company’s own network.
“We’re actively communicating with this provider to resolve the issue so that service can be restored as quickly as possible,” Onyechefule said. “We understand how important these services are and appreciate the patience of our customers.”
Impacted Areas
The outage was first reported in West Ashley and Johns Island, but customers in Mount Pleasant, Isle of Palms, Goose Creek, Summerville, and Ladson also reported losing internet access. Some reports indicated the disruption spread beyond the Charleston metro, with isolated impacts across other parts of South Carolina.
Local news outlets, including Live5 News, noted that the outage map suggested disruptions spanning multiple states, although Charleston and the surrounding Lowcountry were hit hardest.
Cause of the Outage
Fiber cuts — often caused by construction crews or accidental damage — are a leading cause of regional broadband outages. AT&T clarified that this particular incident was due to a third-party fiber cut, meaning another network provider’s damaged line cascaded into AT&T’s services.
This is not the first time AT&T has faced such challenges. Earlier this year, the company attributed 911 outages in several states to unrelated fiber cuts made by third parties. While Tuesday’s disruption did not directly impact emergency services, the incident highlighted how vulnerable broadband infrastructure remains to external factors.
Restoration Efforts
As of Tuesday afternoon, AT&T had not provided an exact timeline for full restoration of service. Technicians from both AT&T and the third-party provider were working to identify and repair the damaged fiber lines. Customers were advised to monitor AT&T’s outage alerts or use the company’s MyAT&T app for updates.
Broader Implications
The outage underscores ongoing concerns about the reliability of internet infrastructure in rapidly growing regions like Charleston. With more businesses, schools, and local governments relying on uninterrupted connectivity, even a brief service disruption can have widespread economic and social consequences.
Telecom experts note that diversifying fiber routes and building redundancies into the network are critical steps to prevent large-scale outages from single points of failure.
What’s Next
AT&T has reassured customers that restoration remains a top priority and pledged to work closely with the third-party provider until all impacted services are fully restored.
For now, Charleston-area customers are awaiting updates while technicians continue repairs.