AT&T Business on Fire, Really

AT&T has to replace 17,000 batteries used in network cabinets after four equipment fires in the last two years. Avestor, the battery maker is out of business (I wonder why) and can’t help find if the problem affects a particular series of batteries or all of them. AT&T will therefore have to replace the whole installed base, which will cost many millions and a lot of time.

“It looks like a multimillion-dollar job, considering the cost of replacement batteries plus the labor to install them. They’ll probably need to change the wiring to the batteries, too.” (Kermit Ross, Analyst)