Northwestel to fix Iqaluit landline service “over next few days”

Northwestel said Sept. 22 that company technicians are working to repair an issue affecting landline phones in Iqaluit.

Starting late Sept. 21, Northwestel customers in Nunavut’s capital began to complain of technical issues ranging from no dial tone to crossed lines.

“Due to a loss of software programming, some business and residential telephone customers are experiencing various states of disruption,” Northwestel said in a Sept. 22 release.

Service to customers should be restored “gradually over the next few days,” the company said.

The problem is limited to local and long-distance calls made from landlines; cell phone and internet services are not affected.

Northwestel said Iqaluit’s emergency service numbers are working, although the city put out a release Sept. 22 advising residents that the Iqaluit Fire Department dispatch is experiencing intermittent problems with receiving phone calls.

For emergencies, residents should call 979-4422, and for non-emergencies, 979-5650.

Iqalungmiut can also call the Iqaluit dispatch cell number at 222-4160.