PHILIPSBURG--TelEm Group will be carrying out an emergency shutdown of its telecommunication services from 11:00pm tonight, Tuesday. The shutdown will continue until 3:00am and will affect all mobile voice and data services, Internet and landline services.
A number of emergency services will also be affected, including the Police Force, Fire Department, St. Maarten Medical Center and the Government Administration Building.
According to TelEm Group Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Eldert Louisa on Monday, the shutdown will allow for critical maintenance and upgrade works and cannot be avoided at this time.
“Once completed, this operation will help with many technical improvements to the service we provide for our customers and to St. Maarten generally,” said Louisa. He said the late hours of Tuesday had been chosen to carry out the works so that there can be the least impact on customers.
“Some very important public and emergency services will be affected and we advise residents who may wish to make use of these services to take special note. We will have outside contractors and engineers standing by and assisting during this maintenance window to ensure services are restored as quickly as possible and with the least interruption and impact possible,” added Louisa.
He apologised in advance on behalf of management to all those who will be affected by Tuesday’s four-hour shutdown.
