Emergency Updates
Weather event
The majority of customers are back in service following the recent windstorms
Since Hurricane Fiona, Bell has invested $10 million to install an additional 100 fixed generators to critical cell towers across Atlantic Canada, and now the majority are equipped.
We also started a 3-year, $30 million program to install an extra 150 fixed generators to support critical wireline sites (central offices) in the region, starting with 50 this year. Adding fixed generators means critical sites will automatically switch to generator power if commercial power is lost. This also gives us more flexibility in the planning stages by having our fleet of portable generators ‘at the ready’ in areas predicted to be the hardest hit.
Our preparations
Bell’s network is designed to withstand extreme weather with extra layers of protection like redundancy paths, and network battery and generator backup systems to minimize the risk of disruption if commercial power is lost.
We have activated our internal emergency response process for 24/7 planning and coordination of our response to the evolving situation. Additional preparations included:
-
Comprehensive network review to ensure stability
-
Fuelling our fleet of generators and vehicles
-
Positioning generators to critical sites that support high-density fibre routes and public safety communications
-
Having crews and resources from other regions on standby to support restoration if needed
-
Communicating with provincial emergency management organizations
Current customer impacts
The majority of customers are back in service following the recent windstorms
Our team has made great progress on restoring services across Atlantic Canada following the recent windstorms. This work will continue throughout the weekend and holidays until everyone is back in service.
Please reach out by phone at 1 888 214 7896 if you have any concerns so we can assist.