Northwestel’s recently completed fibre optic cable was called to action late last week when a piece of equipment on another company’s network in Northern Alberta failed. By using its new link, Northwestel was able to avoid a major service outage while the equipment was repaired.

This new infrastructure was completed only two weeks ago, on May 24. Northwestel invested $10 million to complete this link which provides an alternate route for telecommunications during service disruptions. 

“We had done considerable simulated testing but it was very exciting to see success in a real-life situation,” said Northwestel Vice President of Information Technology Don Pumphrey. “We appreciate the important role our services play in daily life and are very pleased to know that this recent investment has improved the reliability these services.”

The new fibre link runs between Fort Nelson in British Columbia and Hay River in the Northwest Territories. Traffic was re-routed to this new link on Thursday, June 2 when a piece of equipment outside of the Northwestel network failed.

“Without this link an equipment failure of this kind, especially one on the southern infrastructure, could have caused a significant service outage,” said Pumphrey.

Northwestel provides complete telecommunications solutions and entertainment services in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, northern British Columbia and High Level, Alberta. The company’s operations span nearly 4 million square kilometres of the most remote and rugged areas of Canada.