The attempted sale of a UK internet provider has fallen apart for an unusual reason: rats chewing through its cables.
London-based ISP G.Network has entered administration with around £300 million in debt, after a planned takeover by rival Community Fibre collapsed. The company serves fewer than 25,000 customers, leading administrators to seek a buyer.
According to The Telegraph, Community Fibre walked away from the deal after discovering that rats had been eating G.Network’s biodegradable fibre cables. Community Fibre CEO Graeme Oxby said rodents are attracted to the ducts and fibres, calling the problem a major structural issue that would be costly to fix.
The cables are made using soy- and corn-based materials, which makes them especially appealing to rats, according to Tom’s Hardware.
Despite entering administration, G.Network says it continues to provide gigabit internet services to customers in London for £29 per month.
While unusual, cable damage isn’t unheard of. In one recent case in the US, thousands of customers lost internet after a stray bullet pierced a fibre optic line.