A gas discharge tube assembly includes a multi-cell gas discharge tube (GDT). The multi-cell GDT includes a housing defining a GDT chamber, a plurality of inner electrodes located in the GDT chamber, a trigger resistor located in the GDT chamber, and a gas contained in the GDT chamber. The inner electrodes are serially disposed in the chamber in spaced apart relation to define a series of cells and spark gaps. The trigger resistor includes an interface surface exposed to at least one of the cells. The trigger resistor is responsive to an electrical surge through the trigger resistor to generate a spark along the interface surface and thereby promote an electrical arc in the at least one cell.