In northwest British Columbia, a significant number of individuals faced digital communication disruptions and business hindrances on Monday due to a robbery attempt targeting Telus’s critical copper cables. The outage, which began around 3 a.m., affected a wide area spanning from Burns Lake to Terrace, Prince Rupert, and Haida Gwaii.
The incident occurred near Sheraton, B.C., where thieves attempted to steal the cables, resulting in the cutting of fiber lines. Consequently, essential services such as internet, cellular communications, home phone service, and 911 emergency lines were impacted.
The service interruption persisted throughout the day until approximately 6 p.m. PT when full restoration was achieved. Telus expressed gratitude to customers for their patience and acknowledged the swift efforts of repair crews in restoring vital services to northern B.C. communities.
To bridge the service gap, an alternative carrier was utilized for emergency cellphone connectivity, enabling call functionality. However, data, internet, and landline services remained unavailable, with text messaging experiencing intermittent disruptions.
Limited options for alternative providers in the region exacerbated the situation, affecting normal operations for businesses relying on internet services, including point-of-sale systems. In Prince Rupert, the outage posed challenges for individuals aboard a docked cruise ship who lacked cash, hindering transactions at local establishments.
Law enforcement in Burns Lake initiated an investigation following reports of severed lines, with the RCMP actively looking into the matter. Emergency services managed to operate on backup networks, with Northern Health noting the impact on 21 sites but assuring that acute care facilities maintained satellite internet backup services.
Despite the outage, paramedics continued to respond to calls, utilizing cellular and satellite phones for communication. The incident underscores the ongoing issue of copper theft, a problem recognized by industry associations and service providers facing growing challenges due to such criminal activities.