In 2005, an American broadband and telecommunications company faced a major service outage in Los Angeles, California. A computer system's problem led to the corruption of the company's main software services environment. Over 150,000 customers lost land-line, Internet and some mobile phone and 911 services.
To make matters worse, the company's back-up systems failed to deploy - forcing government officials to issue emergency broadcasts over a local radio station informing constituents of the problem. This case emphasizes the need for contingency plans and for regular tests of back-up systems after they have been put in place.
