Patna, Jan. 13: Reliance Internet and mobile services (along with landline connections) collapsed here on Thursday, making it impossible for users to communicate in the first half of the day.

Both CDMA and GSM services were affected.

While users couldn’t make calls, callers from other services continuously heard automated messages like the network is busy or the phone is switched off.

The problem persisted in the second half of the day too. Reliance services officials were tight-lipped over the issue.

However, one official maintained that the collapse was due to a fibrer cut in Kurji area due to which its services were hit.

“The cut appears to be deliberate and we are looking into the matter,” the official said, stressing that by evening, most services had been restored.

Some sources said that the problem occurred because of the 3G services which Reliance is about to launch for its customers.

Text messages from Reliance had been sent to users a day before that the services might get interrupted between 1 to 4 pm since they are upgrading thee system to 3G services.

However, some users complained that there was no network since last night.

Businessmen were affected the most.

Rahul Gupta, owner of a glass showroom in Patna, said: “Our work got delayed by a day since we could not contact our employees or the cart-puller. This service collapse affected our business to a great extent.”