The very nature of fiber optic cabling requires handling microscopic strands that, when damaged, can cause signal loss or, worse, physical harm through glass splinters. Moreover, the risk of laser exposure from broken or poorly terminated optical fibers can't be. Even small forms of damage—from a bent cable to a rodent bite—can disrupt signals, cause costly outages, and require expensive repairs. This guide explores the most common causes of fiber-optic cable damage, explains the technical impact of each risk, and provides actionable strategies to protect. Whether it is acts of God, extreme weather, or just a shovel, fiber networks can be disrupted by factors outside your control. Based on our own experiences here are the top six culprits of causing fiber damage: 1. Animals From squirrels to rats and rabbits, rodents like to chew whatever they can. Fiber cuts in Van Nuys, California last month resulted in outages for more than 50,000 residential customers and 500 business customers, Charter said, including emergency services and a U. Here are some key points to consider: Installation Processes: During the installation of fiber optic cables, improper handling or excessive tension can lead to damage. As much as 99% of inter-continental internet traffic relies on subsea data cables, while subsea power cables are instrumental to bring offshore renewable energy to our electricity grid.