Digital Teleport Restores Network after Bridge Collapse

WEBBERS FALLS, Okla., June 19 -- Digital Teleport Inc., a fiber optics communications carrier in secondary and tertiary markets in the Midwest, has completed work to restore full network redundancy after the collapse of the Interstate 40 bridge over the Arkansas River on May 26.

The bridge collapse severed a Digital Teleport fiber optic cable that carried voice and data traffic for a number of major telecommunications providers. Digital Teleport said its "self-healing" ringed network design instantly rerouted the traffic around the break, preventing any interruption in service.

"Our network ring protection worked flawlessly, and none of our customers suffered any loss of service," said Steve Hendrix, senior vice president of network operations for Digital Teleport. "But the cut left a portion of our network exposed if a second catastrophic event would have occurred. "We needed to immediately find another way to route our fiber across the river until the original bridge crossing could be rebuilt."

Digital Teleport installed 2.5 miles of temporary fiber to reach another river-crossing point upstream from the collapsed bridge.

Permanent network restoration may take several months after the bridge is reopened. Digital Teleport said it is exploring the possibility of boring under the Arkansas River to permanently restore its fiber optic cable.