Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2000/05/10/bt_network_crash_takes_down/

BT network crash takes down schools ISP

And 80 more companies

By Tim Richardson

Posted in On-Prem, 10th May 2000 14:42 GMT

Yesterday's network crash was far worse than BT admitted, The Register can reveal. The monster telco said no ISPs were affected when it's 0345, 0645, 0845 and 0800 numbers fell over yesterday. But Vulture Central has learnt that BT's 0820 numbers fell over as well and that the lights went out at a number of ISPs. A spokesman for BT finally admitted today that some 80 companies were hit yesterday, including utilities, banks and transport outfits. What he failed to mention was that schools on the National Grid for Learning (NGfL) and other Net access schemes were also hit leaving children without access to the web. The Education Exchange (EDEX), an ISP which provides filtered and controlled Internet connectivity for education, said: "BT have informed us they have a major network problem which has affected 0800 & 0345 numbers. "The platform that carries these numbers has failed on a national scale." So, BT is responsible for denying our children - and let's be honest, they're the future of this great nation - their God-given right to a decent education. ®