TelEm Group is informing the general public that the company will be carrying out an “Emergency Shutdown” of its telecommunication services from 11:00 O’clock Tuesday evening. The shutdown will continue for four hours until three in the morning, 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 Department.
The Fire Department.
The Sint Maarten Medical Center.
The Government Administration Building.
According to TelEm Group Chief Technical Officer, Mr. Eldert Louisa, 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 Mr. Louisa.
Mr. Louisa said the late hours of Tuesday were chosen to carry out the works so that there can be the least impact on customers, however the technical chief says some very important public and emergency services will be affected and he is especially asking members of the public 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,” said Mr. Louisa.
The CTO meantime took the opportunity in advice to apologize on behalf of management, all those who will be affected by Tuesday’s four-hour shutdown.