October 6, 2025

What are sun outages?

A sun outage, or sun fade, happens when a satellite orbits directly between the earth and the sun, interrupting satellite signals for several minutes at a time. This affects satellite-provided services, including mobile and internet services. Sun outages happen semi-annually, around the last week of February and first week of October each year. The disruption generally does not last longer than about 15 minutes a day for several consecutive days.

When is the next sun outage period?

Sun outages typically happen twice a year in Alaska — once in the spring and once in the fall.

From October 8 to October 19, 2025, customers in satellite served communities will experience service interruptions. These interruptions may occur on a few consecutive days, lasting up to 15 minutes between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Alaska time. Some communities may be impacted again for up to 15 minutes between 4 and 5 p.m., Alaska time. The dates of impact will vary among communities, depending on their geographical location and the location of the satellites.

The following communities may be affected:

Adak
Afognak Danger Bay
Akhiok
Akutan 
Ambler
Anaktuvuk Pass
Anchorage
Aniak
Arctic Village
Atka
Atqasuk 
Beaver
Bethel 
Birch Creek
Bristol Bay
Buckland
Chenega Bay
Chevak
Chignik
Chignik Lagoon
Chignik Lake
Chilkat
Clarks Point 
Coffman Cove
Cold Bay 
Cordova
Cripple
Crooked Creek
Deadhorse
Deering
Dillingham
Dutch Harbor / Unalaska
Eagle
Eagle River
Egegik
Elim
Emmonak
Fairbanks
False Pass 
Fort Yukon
Frontier
Galena
Gambell
Golovin
Goodnews Bay 
Gulkana
Gustavus
Hooper Bay
Huslia
Iliamna
Juneau
Kaktovik
Katmai 
Kiana
King Cove 
King Salmon
Kivalina
Kobuk
Kodiak
Kotlik
Kotzebue 
Koyuk
Levelock
Little Diomede
McGrath
Mentasta
Minto 
Nelson Lagoon
Nenana
Nikolai
Nikolski
Noatak
Nome
Noorvik
North Slope
Nuiqsut
Nunam Iqua
Nushagak
Old Harbor
Ouzinkie
Perryville
Pilot Point
Point Hope
Point Lay
Port Alexander
Port Heiden
Port Lions
Port Moller
Raven
Reddogport
Saint Paul
Sand Point
Savoonga 
Selawik
Shaktoolik
Shismaref 
Shungnak
Sitka
Sleetmute
St. George
St. Marys
St. Michael 
St. Paul 
Stebbins
Stony River 
Teller
Togiak
Toksook Bay
Uganik 
Unalakleet
Utqiagvik
Venetie
Wainwright
Wales
Whale Pass
White Mountain 
Yakataga
Yakutat

When was the last sun outage period?

From February 20 to March 2, 2025, customers in satellite-served communities experienced service interruptions.