Internet disruptions reported in western Alaska due to apparent subsea cable break

Widespread Internet Outage Linked to Subsea Fiber Optic Cable Break

A significant internet outage affecting users across the region has been attributed to an apparent subsea fiber optic cable break, according to telecommunications provider Quintillion. The disruption, first reported by users early Saturday morning, has left many without reliable internet access, with no immediate resolution in sight.

Quintillion confirmed the outage in a Facebook post at 10:02 a.m., stating, “It appears there was a subsea fiber optic cable break near Oliktok Point, and the outage will be prolonged.” The company did not provide a specific timeline for when service might be restored but noted it is collaborating with partners and customers to explore alternative solutions.

The location of the break is near the site of a similar incident in 2023, which left customers without internet for 14 weeks. Repairs during that outage were only possible during the ice-free summer months, requiring the deployment of a specialized vessel.

When contacted for further details, a Quintillion spokesperson reiterated the information shared on Facebook and declined to provide additional updates.

The outage has raised concerns among residents and businesses reliant on consistent internet connectivity, particularly in remote areas where Quintillion’s services are critical. As the company works to address the issue, affected users are left waiting for clarity on when normal operations will resume.