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Major UK Comms Backbone Bunker Burned Out

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the no-smoke-without-etc dept.

evilandi writes "The BBC are reporting that much of Manchester, England is without telephone service following a fire in a major underground tunnel system. The site in question is strongly suspected to be the 'Guardian' nuclear communications bunker system which is one of the main three UK subterranean communications backbone bunkers. The giveaway is this regional BBC news story which mentions Chapel Street, one of the very few entrance/exit points to the 'Guardian' system. If confirmed, Manchester could be without wired communications for some time. The MANAP Manchester Network Access Point regional Internet hub is officially reporting nothing, but a number of UK admins are seeing significant disruption."

17 of 309 comments (clear)

  1. Strange by RickoniX · · Score: 4, Funny

    First verizon knocks out e911 service in NYC, now a backbone goes out in the UK, you'd think it wasn't a coincidence

    --
    Geekleak.com - Silly name, serious geeks
    1. Re:Strange by Scoria · · Score: 5, Funny

      It's not. This is an obvious Al Qaeda attack against the free world's communications infrastructure. We need to invade Iran NOW and capture the terrorists operating out of there before it gets worse. Today it's wired telephone service, tomorrow millions of Finnish teenagers could be without cellular phone service. We must all band together to stop the terrorists.

      Who authored this message, Bush or Dick?

      --
      Do you like German cars?
  2. Northeners by MrWim · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's not too much of a worry. There's only about 6 people in manchester with telephones. They only just got fire you know

  3. Not everyone will notice by thebra · · Score: 5, Funny

    "while AOL said its customers in the area, who are connected to the BT network, would also experience problems."
    ...and they were so close to figuring out how to use internet...

  4. Use protection! by Scoria · · Score: 4, Funny

    you'd think it wasn't a coincidence

    The government(s) want you to believe that it is merely a coincidence. Coincidentally, I'm currently offering virtual tinfoil hats at a 20% discount. Therein lies the difference between a fortunate and unfortunate coincidence!

    --
    Do you like German cars?
    1. Re:Use protection! by Draknor · · Score: 5, Funny

      However, I do not wish to be seen as the 800 pound ogre in this market, so I am now offering licenses for my IP to all Scoria customers at the low rate of $699.00 per brain.

      I take it there are significant discounts for SCO & RIAA directors, then?

  5. Ping? *sizzle* by Dark+Lord+Seth · · Score: 5, Funny
    Pinging guardian.co.uk [212.187.153.21] with 32 bytes of data:

    Request timed out.
    Request timed out.
    Request timed out.
    Request timed out.

    Ping statistics for 212.187.153.21:
    Packets: Sent = 4, Received = 0, Lost = 0, Burned to a crisp = 4 (100% loss),
    Approximate round trip times in milli-seconds:
    Minimum = 0ms, Maximum = 0ms, Average = 0ms
    --
    Hate me!
  6. Funniest line of the article by mehtajr · · Score: 5, Funny

    "People experiencing problems with their telephones were also asked not to report the fault."

    Too bad they told them to wait. I can see it now, thousands of people screaming in the general direction of the phone company's office. A modern day, less funny, Monty Python sketch waiting to happen.
  7. This could never happend in France by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    'Cause we all know they don't have backbones.

  8. Re:Oh no! by ackthpt · · Score: 4, Funny
    WAIT! You're saying that people there might have to communicate in person for a bit? How terrible!

    Being british, they're able to cope with the suffering. Stiff upper lip and all that.

    If it happened in the USA the public outcry would be deafening.

    --

    A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
  9. Re:air in the tunnels? by Neil+Blender · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was under the impression that many of these tunnels were filled with inert gasses, such as SF6

    We keep sending guys to check on that, but they never come back...

  10. Can you hear me now???? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    I say, old chap... can you hear me now??????????

  11. Malt vinegar and fish oil contributed largely to.. by planckscale · · Score: 5, Funny
    ...the fire delaying precious orders for more chips. Those near the fire were quoted as saying "Bloody fiber isn't in our diets anyway."

    --
    Namaste
  12. Don't worry by Kohath · · Score: 4, Funny
    They're already communicating using their backup system, which is based on semaphore.

    This backup system is fire-proof, though it can be degraded by smoke and fog.

  13. BOFH by XavierItzmann · · Score: 4, Funny

    The bloody BOFH was tired of his windowless office and needed new digs.

    BOFH... England... get it?

    --
    The next pasture is always greener
  14. Re:Whoa.. where is the redunancy by dekashizl · · Score: 4, Funny
    I must ask - WHERE IS THE REDUNDANCY.
    Why good sir, it is right there next to the subject of your post, clear as day: "Score:0, Redundant". Ask and ye shall receive!
  15. Obvious Pun by cgenman · · Score: 4, Funny

    Where else would the phone lines be flaming?

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