10th September 2025, Kathmandu
The nationwide protests have taken a new and concerning turn, impacting critical digital infrastructure.
CG Internet Outage
CG Communications, a major internet service provider in Nepal, has confirmed that its internet service has been shut down following an arson attack on its main data center.
The deliberate act of setting fire to the facility has caused widespread disruptions, leaving thousands of customers without internet access.
The company issued a statement via text message and social media, informing its customers of the service outage and attributing it directly to the fire.
This incident marks a significant escalation in the ongoing unrest, as destructive actions are now targeting the very networks that connect people and enable communication.
The attack on CG’s core infrastructure is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of digital services to civil unrest and the devastating impact such acts can have on the daily lives of citizens.
The Heart of the Network: A Critical Loss
A data center is a technological hub that houses the servers, networking equipment, and infrastructure essential for an internet service provider’s operations.
For CG, this data center was the central nervous system of its network, processing and routing internet traffic for its entire customer base.
The fire, therefore, did not just damage property; it crippled the company’s ability to provide its core service. This is a far more severe setback than a simple cable cut or localized power outage.
The consequences of this arson attack are immediate and far-reaching. Customers, from individual households to businesses and institutions, are now without a crucial utility in the modern world.
In a country where the internet is increasingly vital for commerce, education, and communication, such a disruption has a cascading effect. Small businesses reliant on online transactions will be unable to operate, students will be cut off from online classes and research materials, and individuals will lose a primary means of staying informed and in touch with loved ones.
The Broader Context of Disruption
The attack on CG’s data center comes amidst a period of intense public discontent and violent protests in Nepal. While the Gen-Z movement began with calls for good governance and an end to corruption, recent events have seen a shift towards destructive actions targeting key infrastructure and government buildings.
This incident, along with the reported arson of other democratic institutions and private residences, raises serious questions about the nature of the protest and the motives of those involved.
While the original protesters may have had legitimate grievances, the recent acts of vandalism and arson suggest the presence of a more destructive element, as warned by political figures like former Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai and former King Gyanendra Shah.
These actions not only cause immense damage but also risk alienating public support for the movement itself. The targeting of private property, like the homes of leaders or, in this case, a company’s data center, crosses a line from political protest into criminal activity.
The Challenge of Recovery
For CG Communications, the path to recovery will be long and challenging. Restoring internet service after such an attack involves more than just flipping a switch.
The company must assess the full extent of the damage to its servers, networking equipment, and cooling systems. It will then need to replace destroyed hardware, rebuild its network infrastructure, and restore data from backups, if possible.
This process is time-consuming and costly, and the complete restoration of services could take a significant amount of time.This incident also serves as a wake-up call for all internet service providers and tech companies in the country.
It highlights the need for robust disaster recovery plans, geographically dispersed data centers, and enhanced security measures to protect critical infrastructure from both natural disasters and deliberate human-led attacks.
The digital future of Nepal depends on the resilience of its technological backbone, and this recent event has shown just how fragile that backbone can be. The internet disruption caused by the data center fire is a painful reminder that while technology can empower a generation, it can also be a victim of the very forces it helps to unleash.
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