Northwestel, a major telecommunications provider in Canada’s northern regions, is currently facing service disruptions in Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut. The outage, which was first acknowledged by Yukon Protective Services at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, is causing disruptions in landline calling, cellular service, internet, and T.V. for customers in Yukon. In Nunavut and the N.W.T., only local and long-distance calling are affected.
The N.W.T. RCMP issued a press release at 2 p.m. on the same day, informing the public about the communications disruption that is impacting 911 services, landlines, and some cellular carriers across the Northwest Territories. Constable Josh Seaward, a spokesperson for the N.W.T. RCMP’s Yellowknife detachment, stated that individuals requiring urgent police assistance should visit their local detachment in person if 911 or landlines are not functioning.
Northwestel, the telecommunications company responsible for the outage, is aware of the issue and is working to resolve it. Michelle Klaben, a spokesperson for the Yukon Emergency Measures Organization, explained that a Northwestel site in northern British Columbia is currently down, forcing the company to rely on its backup system, which may result in intermittent or spotty service. In the Yukon, the primary impact is on internet speed and cellular data services, with Northwestel prioritizing landline and cell phone calling and text services over data.
Customers in downtown Whitehorse, Yukon, are advised to use cash only at ATMs and businesses during the outage on August 25. Northwestel spokesperson Matthew Bossons confirmed that the disruption is due to an equipment failure and that technicians are working diligently to restore services. Bossons reassured customers that all available resources are being utilized to minimize the impact of the outage.
Despite the ongoing service disruption, individuals requiring emergency assistance are encouraged to call 911 first. If connectivity issues persist, emergencies should be reported in person at the nearest RCMP station or detachment. Northwestel has not provided a timeline for when services may be fully restored, but they are actively working towards resolving the issue.
