European internet users could face a "Black Wednesday" if KPNQwest"s networks are shut down, according to volunteer operators who have blockaded themselves into the firm"s Belgian networks operation centre.
Administrators for KPNQwest, which is insolvent, have given the firm until midnight tonight to settle its debts or the plug will be pulled on the biggest network in Europe, affecting at least 25 per cent of all European internet traffic.
The deadline is part of a rescue deal to keep the network going until the end of the month, giving customers enough time to find an alternative provider.
However, a massive knock-on effect will be felt if the Belgium-based Ebone network, owned by KPNQwest, is also shut down.
It is estimated that a further 25 per cent of European data traffic goes through Ebone, threatening a bad day for the internet if both go down this week.
But employees of Ebone are not going to let the network go down without a fight - jobs or no jobs.