Northerners can expect disruptions to telecommunications services early Wednesday morning, according to Northwestel. The company announced planned network maintenance that could affect internet and phone services in all three territories for several hours. The work is scheduled to occur between 3 a.m. and 9 a.m. ET on Wednesday, with potential disruptions lasting up to four hours during this period.
In the Yukon, all telecommunications services will be disrupted except for some local calling and long-distance calling outside of Whitehorse. In the Northwest Territories, internet services could be disrupted in communities with fibre technology outside of Yellowknife. Local calling in Yellowknife may also be disrupted, except for copper-based technology, long-distance calling, and cellular services.
Internet will also be disrupted in satellite communities. In Nunavut, long-distance calling will be disrupted in most communities.
Network maintenance to impact services
Northwestel indicated that the disruptions could affect people’s ability to contact emergency services. In a news release, it advised residents to “visit your local government or RCMP websites and Facebook pages to learn more.
The RCMP in Nunavut stated that emergency lines will not be available during the six-hour period of maintenance, meaning there will be no 911 service in many communities, including Iqaluit. Residents in affected areas are advised to contact their local RCMP detachment at 0123 if needed.
The Government of the Northwest Territories announced that it is taking measures to ensure 911 services remain operational during the outage. They suggest that residents contact RCMP community detachments directly or go in person to the detachment if they are unable to reach their local health clinic or hospital by phone during a health emergency. In the Yukon, people needing emergency assistance are asked to try 911 first and, if that fails, to go to the local hospital or fire hall in Whitehorse.
Outside the capital, residents can go to their local RCMP detachment or use the phone outside the local health centre. Ambulances will also be stationed at several locations around Whitehorse during the service disruption. For more information, residents are encouraged to stay updated through their local government or RCMP websites and social media channels.
