AT&T U-verse batteries going supernova

AT&T is looking to replace 17,000 backup batteries in U-verse equipment cabinets all over the country over concerns that they can explode. Those are confirmed concerns, too, as there have been four confirmed incidents since October 2006. Explosions have occurred in Houston, Cleveland and Wisconsin; the Wisconsin incident reportedly was strong enough to blow the 50-pound cabinet door off its bolts. The bad news for AT&T is that the battery manufacturer, Avestor, filed for bankruptcy in October 2006 and is no longer in business. What's worse is that a consulting firm hired to examine the first incidents deemed the battery design ok, and chalked up the explosions to "manufacturing defects." So now AT&T has taken it upon itself to spend some big bucks to locate and replace the already-in-service (and obviously widely dispersed) lithium metal polymer batteries.

[Via TVOver, image courtesy of LightReading]

EDIT: Spelling error fixed (thanks, Bryce!) and photo credit changed (thanks, Phil!).

[codeyh Posted Jan 16th 2008 11:48AM]

"there have bee four confirmed incidents"

there have 'been'... :)

Not trying to be 'that guy'.. I'm frustrated that u-verse isn't in TN...

[Squid7085 Posted Jan 16th 2008 4:09PM]

I am guessing this will only further delay the U-Verse Rollout in Wichita, KS. I'm sure this will get top level priority and market rollouts will take a back stage, however, I do applaud that, but hate it. Lol.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 16th 2008 8:04PM]

This is what happens when you buy cheap batteries and store them for years

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 19th 2008 12:29PM]

I wonder what kind of cooling system is in those cabinets.