On May 20, 2:54 pm, tony sayer wrote:
Course a lot of comms stuff in the UK is on fibre now, doesn't seem that
bothered by Jove's bolts...

Therefore all those switches were damaged when fiber did not exist?
Of course, not. It is routine to interconnect buildings with wires
and not have damage. There is zero reason to solve this problem with
fiber. A solution is so simple as to be standard even long before
the transistor existed.

Many have confused the OP with recommendations and futility that did
not exist and was not necessary even 70 years ago. It is routine and
simple to have surges without damage. Defined was effective
protection for ethernet cables. But as the many professionals note,
earthing must exist for all incoming wires. Every incoming utility
must connect to earth ground directly or via a surge protector.