About 1400 Spark customers in the lower South Island have had their broadband services impacted by damage to a fibre cable in the Rakaia area.
The damage, which took place earlier today, was caused when a contractor digging in the area accidentally cut the cable.
Technicians were on site and expected to begin restoration later this evening.
Spark hoped to have all services restored later tonight.
Spark said the affected customers were those who received broadband over fibre in Timaru, Oamaru, Queenstown, Dunedin and Invercargill.
There was also a small number of customers who received broadband over copper who were affected in Willowby and Hinds.
