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No connection to the outside world Parts of the territory without Northwestel long-distance and Internet services last week
Jeanne Gagnon
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 23, 2013
LIIDLII KUE/FORT SIMPSON
Cash-only purchases, no cellphone usage and no e-mail was the disconnected reality for many in the territory last week. A damaged fibre optic cable cut off long-distance and Internet services for as long as a day-and-a-half in some parts of the territory.
Northwestel long-distance services in the Yukon and the Northwest Territories were affected for part of Sept. 18. Service was restored around dinner time between the Yellowknife and Hay River areas to Yukon and Inuvik areas.
All remaining disrupted services, including data and long-distance services in the Mackenzie Valley area, were restored at 1:48 p.m. on Sept. 19.
Fort Simpson residents could buy groceries only if they paid cash during the disruption, as debit and ATM machines were not working. Northern store manager John Dempsey said they
were able to place their food order borrowing a satellite phone.
"Unfortunately, it's a cash-only business right now but we're going to be working with the community to try to figure out some way so that people won't starve," said Dempsey on Sept. 18.
He noticed a big drop in attendance at the store, he added.
"Consumers tend to use debit and credit now much more often than cash, so there is not as much traffic through the store."
The lack of long-distance calling and Internet services also affected offices.
These communication methods are part and parcel of a regular day at the Liidlii Kue First Nation office, said Chief Minnie Letcher, who added it's not something to stress about.
"We're getting a break from the world," she said. "When you get into situations, it's like anything else, you just have to cope with the realities of not having service. But it makes one realize how dependent we are on the services."
Fort Simpson Mayor Sean Whelly said the village was "just suffering through it the same as everyone else" during the communication blackout.
"It's an eye-opener to have all your communications shut down to the outside world, though. The village itself doesn't have a satellite phone. We're getting one now. We realize now we've got to have one."
Everyone is trying do their work as best they can on the computers without having outside access, he added.
"It was like going back in time. Outgoing phone calls, I mean that's one thing, but the Internet and e-mail and things like that, to me that really strikes home how dependent we have become on it. To just walk around town and see nobody on their cellphones was somewhat different."
Northwestel technicians worked through the night (Sept. 18) to clear the damaged area of trees and debris, excavate the damaged infrastructure and complete the repairs, stated the company in a press release.
"They worked in shifts to replace 200 metres of damaged fibre."
A melted fibre terminal caused by a forest fire at the Morrisey Microwave
Site was the cause of the disruption, the company confirmed.
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