{
  "id": 914673,
  "title": "Days-long Telus outage leaves Calgary residents frustrated",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/days-long-telus-outage-leaves-calgary-residents-frustrated-914673",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-14T22:42:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Global News",
    "slug": "global-news-globalnews",
    "url": "https://globalnews.ca/news/12022249/telus-copper-wire-theft-outage/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Calgary residents are grappling with an extended Telus outage that has left them without cable, internet, and phone service for over a week, prompting frustration and inconvenience. Chris and Laurie Softley, who returned home from vacation to find their Wi-Fi down, are among hundreds of affected customers. Telus attributes the issue to a surge in copper theft incidents, with the price of copper rising and the number of thefts doubling in 2026 compared to the previous year. These thefts often result in damage to nearby fibre cables, causing disruptions to critical services. Calgary Police Sgt. Nick Wilsher noted that these cables are easily accessible, posing a risk to emergency communications and infrastructure, including irrigation systems. The Softleys, who have been without internet for 11 days, have been on the phone with Telus's customer service for over 10 hours without a resolution. They have expressed their dissatisfaction, asking for their services to be restored.",
  "summary": "Thieves cutting copper telecommunications wires has resulted in hundreds of Calgarians being without phone, internet or cable service for more than a week now, Telus says.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Global News",
        "title": "Days-long Telus outage leaves Calgary residents frustrated",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/days-long-telus-outage-leaves-calgary-residents-frustrated",
        "published": "2026-08-14T22:42:40.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}