Posted: 11th Nov, 2011 By: MarkJ


Internet providers don't stop working just because
Christmas is coming, yet both consumers and businesses should be reminded that any
new broadband and or phone line service orders placed over the holiday period could be hit by a "
Network Freeze" and
serious delays.
This year business ISP
Fusion Media Networks (FMN) has taken a more specific line on the problem by warning of a
Network Freeze over the Christmas holiday period, which will run from 15th December 2011 to 5th January 2012.
According to FMN, this period means that no "
new provides, installs and service upgrades will [be] actioned until 6th January 2012" and this could also delay some quoted delivery times. The problem is by no means unique to FMN and stems from the fact that a number of key UK suppliers also wind down their operations over the same period. Workers also take time off work to be with their families, which exacerbates the problem.
It should be said that some suppliers and network providers do continue to function, although there's no escaping the fact that
Christmas invariably causes delays. The moral of this story is, if you plan to order a new phone line or broadband connection then December and early January are not the best times to do it.