TEPAConnect Provides Update After Restoring Over 5,100 Tippah County Internet Customers Following Ice Storm
TIPPAH COUNTY, Miss. (Feb. 18, 2026) — Restoration efforts continue across Tippah County as TEPAConnect crews work to repair widespread fiber damage caused by Ice Storm Fern.
The storm created one of the largest internet disruptions in recent county history, with the majority of TEPAConnect customers losing service after ice accumulation damaged main backbone fiber lines and utility infrastructure.
Tippah County Fiber Outage Update
According to a February 18 update from TEPAConnect:
- 5,106 customers have been restored
- 1,507 customers remain without internet service
- Outside crews have joined local TEPAConnect teams to accelerate repairs
Company officials said restoration has been “slow but steady” due to damage to primary fiber backbone lines.
Why Fiber Restoration Takes Time
Fiber internet repair following a severe weather event involves multiple steps:
- Restoring electric power
- Repairing data hubs and central distribution points
- Rebuilding damaged main backbone fiber lines
- Reconnecting service lines to neighborhoods
- Restoring individual service lines to homes and businesses
Damage to mainline fiber — the core network that feeds large areas — must be repaired before neighborhood and residential lines can be fully restored.
Ice Storm Fern downed trees, broke poles, and damaged suspended fiber lines across Tippah County, complicating repair efforts.
TEPAConnect Crews Working Around the Clock
In addition to local technicians, visiting crews from outside the area are assisting with the large-scale fiber outage recovery.
TEPAConnect thanked customers for their patience, noting that fiber restoration is a detailed and labor-intensive process that requires careful splicing and testing before service can be safely restored.
While no final restoration timeline has been announced, crews say they are working diligently to reconnect every affected customer as quickly as possible.
Residents experiencing ongoing outages are encouraged to monitor official TEPAConnect updates for the latest information.
