The problem also knocked out long distance telephone service for all of the Yukon and Northern British Columbia.

Anne Kennedy-Grainger, NorthwesTel spokesperson, said the link was down for four hours Wednesday.

"Long distance calling in the Northwest Territories wasn't affected because it relies on a different link."

"We're bringing replacement parts out to that site today," she said Thursday morning.

She said Internet users in the NWT would continue to experience congestion Thursday but NorthwesTel hoped to have the problem fixed by late afternoon.