Fixed-line internet services provided by South Korea's three major telecom companies experienced partial disruptions Thursday, apparently due to an error that occurred during a firmware update. Telecom industry sources reported nationwide service disruptions to wired internet networks by the three telecom companies starting at 5 p.m. Industry insiders believe the issue was caused by an error during a firmware update process involving a company that supplied access point equipment to the telecom operators. Subscribers using these devices were unable to access certain websites, including those of government-run "go.kr" domains. The telecom companies and communications authorities immediately launched an investigation to assess the situation. The service operators were also considering the possibility of a hacking attack as the cause of the disruptions, industry sources said. Source: Yonhap News Agency