US: Telecommunications outage likely to persist through at least July in northern Alaska

Event

Telecommunication outages are likely to persist in northern Alaska through at least July. Internet and phone services have been disrupted in the North Slope and Northwest Arctic boroughs of Alaska and nearby areas, including Nome, as of June 14 due to damage sustained to an underwater fiber optic cable managed by the telecommunications company Quintillion. Authorities believe that the line was struck by ice, and while they are unable to provide a date on which service will be restored, Quintillion has said it will likely take six to eight weeks to repair the cable.

Commercial disruptions are possible, especially if operations rely heavily on internet access provided by Quintillion. Communication and security systems dependent on internet connectivity may also be affected. Interruptions to online services offered by private entities, including app-based transport booking and food delivery, are possible.

Advice

Confirm telecommunications availability. Anticipate internet disruptions through at least July. Continue to liaise with the Quintillion regarding likely restoration time.