A damaged subsea cable has caused significant cell phone and internet disruptions across Southeast Alaska, affecting government websites and essential services. The Alaska subsea cable outage began late Thursday night, leaving thousands without connectivity.
Alaska Communications confirmed the issue Friday and dispatched a repair ship to assess and fix the damage. Heather Marron, a spokesperson for Alaska Communications, said the company was also exploring alternative ways to restore service in Juneau.
She assured customers that resolving the issue remained the company’s top priority, though no estimated restoration time had been provided. The outage took down important online platforms, including MyAlaska, the central portal for state government services.
Residents could now apply for Permanent Fund dividends, renew driver’s licenses, or book ferry trips online. The Alaska Legislature website and telephone systems also went offline through email communications and remained available intermittently.
Many government websites rely on Juneau-based infrastructure, which explains why the outage impacted state services across Alaska. Marron stated that Alaska Communication was working closely with the state to restore these critical services as quickly as possible.
The Juneau Police Department confirmed that its business phone lines were affected but reassured residents that 911 emergency services remained operational. AT&T, one of several Alaska Communications infrastructure providers, acknowledged the situation and pledged to assist with restoration efforts.
Alaska Communications emphasized that permanent repairs would take time as the repair ship needed to reach the damaged cable’s location. The Alaska subsea cable outage highlights the region’s dependence on reliable connectivity and the challenges of restoring services in remote areas.
This news article was originally published by Anchorage Daily News.
