Massive Fire Hits Bilsdale Transmitter, Cutting Signals to 600,000 Homes
On August 10, a blaze tore through the Bilsdale transmitter, plunging over 600,000 homes across Teesside, County Durham, and North Yorkshire into signal darkness. The crucial mast on the North York Moors, run by Arqiva, suffered severe water damage tied to third-party equipment.
Arqiva Apologises and Details Lengthy Investigation
Arqiva has once again apologised to customers affected by the outage. Twyning, Arqiva’s chief of operations, said: “We continue to work closely with our insurers, customers and third-party companies to ensure the continued safety, security and operational resilience of all our mast sites.”
The investigation dragged on for months due to harsh weather, the site’s remote location, and strict safety rules. After the fire, the damaged mast was demolished.
Temporary Fixes and New Mast on the Way
- September 2021: Temporary transmitter installed
- Early 2022: More resilient temporary structure set up
- Before 2023: Brand-new replacement mast expected
Arqiva also revealed it has inspected 48 other transmitter sites across the UK since the fire, finding no faults or issues.
