Statement from Northwestel President Curtis Shaw on northern telecommunications during the current wildfires
August 8, 2023
In the face of a historic wildfire season, the Northwestel team is focused on maintaining access to telecommunications services as we support the firefighters, emergency responders and impacted communities. I want to provide an update on the telecommunications situation in several northern communities.
Telecommunications services in the Beaufort Delta region
There is no Internet traffic flowing over the Mackenzie Valley Fibre Line past Fort Good Hope. This has slowed Northwestel services in Inuvik, Fort McPherson, Tsiigehtchic, Aklavik and Tuktoyaktuk. Due to an active wildfire, we have not been able to inspect the fibre line, and we don’t have a time frame for when full service will be restored.
Northwestel does have some broadband capacity on an alternate microwave radio network, so Internet and cellular services are still working, but very congested. Northwestel will be taking the following actions to support people in the Beaufort Delta region:
We will be automatically crediting Northwestel home customers 50% of the value of their service for the duration of the disruption.
We are working to rapidly install OneWeb Low Earth Orbit terminals to provide more capacity into the region.
Evacuation orders in Old Crow and Mayo
Our hearts are with all our fellow northerners who have had to leave their homes this year. As we’ve done in the past, we will be automatically crediting residential customers the full value of their service for the length of the official evacuation order, so families can stay focused on their immediate needs. Telecommunications services are currently operational in these communities.
All throughout this year our community technicians have been working tirelessly to keep cellular and Internet services running often in the face of unforgiving conditions. I want to end by thanking them and the many others who are going above and beyond to respond to this unprecedented situation.
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For more information:
1 867 455-4209
media@nwtel.ca
