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The ultimatum was delivered in an e-mail Thursday night after exhausted workers said enough was enough, writes Tim Richardson.
Around 100 unpaid former KPNQwest employees have been keeping the network running from the Network Operations Centre in Brussels while the bankrupt telco looks for a buyer. But they said that the network will be shut down on Friday at 1700 CET (4pm BST) unless the matter is resolved.
Warning of the impact such a move might have they said, "If your e-mail doesn't crash you will still feel the impact of the global price increases that must result from the closure of a network of this magnitude." They added, "After eight days of voluntary work employees are now physically exhausted. Very soon they will have no other choice but to abandon the network they have been building with pride and care for ten years."
"The unprecedented shutdown of such a network would yield serious yet unpredictable economic and social consequences for Europe, including the possible bankruptcy of many small companies dependent on the network to provide services to their customers," they said.
The Ebone network is estimated to carry 25 percent of European Internet traffic with some reports warning of a "meltdown" if the network is switched off.
The Register and its contents are copyright 2002 Situation Publishing. Reprinted with permission.
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