Forced offline: the Q3 2024 Internet disruption summary

The third quarter of 2024 saw a significant number of Internet disruptions, with various underlying causes including government-directed shutdowns, power outages, cable cuts, hurricanes, and military action. In Bangladesh, a nationwide Internet shutdown was imposed by the government to prevent cheating on exams, resulting in a near-complete loss of connectivity. Similarly, in Iraq's Kurdistan region, two sets of exam-related Internet shutdowns were observed, impacting multiple networks. In Syria, an exam-related shutdown was followed by another disruption caused by maintenance at a technical hall, while in Palestine, Israeli airstrikes likely knocked down local network provider Solidere's infrastructure. A fire near a data center in Algeria disrupted connectivity on AS327931 (Djezzy), and in Pakistan, a wide-scale Internet disruption lasted approximately two hours due to a disputed cause. In the United States, Verizon experienced a mobile network outage affecting some customers, while in the United Kingdom, Vodafone reported problems accessing both mobile and landline Internet connections. The third quarter's Internet disruptions highlight the importance of reliable electrical infrastructure and the need for governments to address underlying issues.