We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Download goddammit Shutterstock

Internet company crash leaves customers without web services for days

Internet company Digiweb told clients a server crash could affect its web servers for two to three weeks.

Updated, 19:52

TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY DIGIWEB has been inundated with complaints for more than three days after a server crash left customers without email or web hosting services.

The internet hosting company – founded by 2012 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Colm Piercy –  is reportedly valued at around €120 million after it merged with London based telecoms operator Viatel earlier this year.

However, customers struggling to access the internet for the last three days may not feel the company is worth its multimillion euro price tag.

Twitter storm

A number of tweets from customers to the company’s Twitter account showed growing frustration with Digiweb’s service and lack of customer care in the past week.

Ocean FM Consumer Show contributor Claire Ronan said on Twitter:  ”Are any other people having problems with Digiweb at the moment?  I’m cracking up.”

Speaking to TheJournal.ie Ms Ronan said her husband, who runs a wind farm company from their home, was forced to deal with clients through text message because they had no internet access.

“Not only is our internet down, which is a terrible problem for us, but we want to change provider and we can’t even do that at the minute,”  Ronan said.

Cork-based Church of Ireland Bishop Paul Colton, who officiated at David and Victoria Beckham’s wedding in Lutrellstown Castle, also used the social network to complain about his internet service.

“Our diocesan email is hosted by Digiweb. Has anyone else had problems of unreliability in recent weeks and grinding to a halt this?” Colton said.

He later added: “The whole thing is a mess. One of our busiest weeks of the year.”

Explanation

Digiweb posted a message on its website at 10.30am on Tuesday telling customers it was experiencing an “outage” on two servers and engineers were working to resume service as soon as possible.

The company said it was addressing “recent mail issues” but this resulted in “some unanticipated fallout” when testing a new system.

The company apologised but warned the updating of its system might affected customers for ” short periods of time over the next 1-2 weeks”.

On Wednesday, it said it was implementing  a system change that should improve performance throughout the evening.

But this morning the company again said it was continuing to experience difficulties with email and web hosting services.

The last message posted at lunch time today said the firm was currently investigating a solution for the email and web issue.

The company did not respond to phone calls or Twitter messages this afternoon.

Read: How fast are Irish internet service providers? Here’s what Netflix says >

Read: ComReg to launch its own online test for broadband speeds >

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 61 comments
Close
61 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute TheLoneHurler
    Favourite TheLoneHurler
    Report
    Sep 8th 2014, 6:44 PM

    Great news, hopefully, most if not all former staff can be rehired.

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Michael
    Favourite John Michael
    Report
    Sep 8th 2014, 7:14 PM

    They’ve already been rehired by other hospitals. It’s amazing how the public service hired them when students have to go abroad for work because of the so called embargo. As ever in the public service, it’s who you know, not what you know.

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute voice of raisin
    Favourite voice of raisin
    Report
    Sep 9th 2014, 12:57 AM

    Well, seeing as they’re more experienced than students, then it is a case of what they know, isn’t it?

    I’d rather be treated by an experienced medical professional than a student.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Tom Red
    Favourite Tom Red
    Report
    Sep 8th 2014, 6:23 PM

    Will Paddy the plasterer be doing some of the renovations?????……

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Richard Rodgers
    Favourite Richard Rodgers
    Report
    Sep 8th 2014, 7:25 PM

    This is a sensible investment by the HSE and improves the opportunity to clear some of the blocked beds in the acute care Hospitals South of the Liffey.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Throwaway
    Favourite The Throwaway
    Report
    Sep 8th 2014, 9:58 PM

    Indeed. I’ve been worried a long time now about the lack of services for people in South Dublin.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Thomas
    Favourite David Thomas
    Report
    Sep 8th 2014, 6:21 PM

    Confirmed after it was common knowledge

    34
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Thomas
    Favourite David Thomas
    Report
    Sep 8th 2014, 6:32 PM

    Can’t wait to see how much it will cost by the time the bureaucracy get involved. €11m might seem cheap!

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joan Murphy
    Favourite Joan Murphy
    Report
    Sep 8th 2014, 7:27 PM

    Why the big secret in the first place ??

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Seany Hide
    Favourite Seany Hide
    Report
    Sep 9th 2014, 2:29 AM

    Never fear, the priority of the HSE is to look after the special interest in the health service first, with the interests of the patients a distant second.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Martin Donovan
    Favourite Martin Donovan
    Report
    Sep 8th 2014, 11:41 PM

    Ha, I was born in Mount Carmel

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ernie Hendy
    Favourite Ernie Hendy
    Report
    Sep 9th 2014, 6:38 AM

    The HSE to establish another gravy train.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.