Millions hit by major network outage in Canada; banking, transport affected

Canadians crowded into cafes and public libraries that still had internet access and hovered outside hotels to catch a signal.

Published on: Jul 9, 2022, 09:23:05 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Canada residents faced problems with mobile services and internet connectivity on Friday due a huge network outage of a telecom giant, according to local media. The major outage of Rogers affected banking services, passport officers and the country's ArriveCAN app which is used for border control, drawing outrage from customers and adding to criticism over its industry dominance. Some callers could not even reach emergency services via 911 calls, Reuters reported citing police across Canada.

People crowd around a Starbucks coffee shop to use its free wifi on the Bell network, during a major outage of Rogers Communications' mobile and internet networks. (Reuters)

The company confirmed that the outages were affecting its wirelines and wireless networks. The reason behind the issue, however, is still unknown.

"We acknowledge the impact our outage is having on your life. We have every technical resource and partner fully deployed to solve the problem. As soon as we know the specific time the Networks will be fully operational, we will share that with you. Right now, we are focused on the solution," the telecom giant said in a statement published on Twitter.

"Some of our customers have raised the question of credits and of course we will be proactively crediting all customers and will share more information soon," the statement added.

The company said late Friday night that the network was beginning to recover after a 19-hour service outage.

In a separate statement on its website, company's president and CEO Tony Staffieri apologized for the outage, saying: "Today we let you down. We can and will do better."

Staffieri said that company is “working to fully understand the root cause of this outage” and assured to “make this right” for its customers by applying a “credit to all our customers impacted by the outage.”

A spokesperson for Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino said Friday evening that the outage was not the result of a cyber attack, reported Reuters.

(With inputs from agencies)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest headlines from US news and global updates from Pakistan, Nepal, UK, Bangladesh, Russia and US Iran war Live, get all the latest headlines in one place on Hindustan Times.