If your Bell business services use our fibre optic network, your Business phone service, including 9-1-1 emergency services, will not work during a power outage. To maintain phone service during a power outage, you need a battery backup, or an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), to power your modem.
A UPS or battery backup provides electricity when your regular power source fails. When the electricity goes out, your modem will continue to be powered if it’s plugged into the battery, allowing you to stay connected to the Internet.
You can purchase a battery backup from various retailers who sell electronics and related devices, such as Staples, Amazon or Best Buy.
Choosing and installing a battery back up
The power a battery backup offers is measured in volt-amperes (VA). The longer you want to power your modem, the more VA your battery backup will need.
We recommend a battery backup with a minimum of 300 VA. We also recommend connecting only your Bell modem to the battery to maximize its run time in the event of a power outage.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions to install the battery backup.
Keeping your modem powered during a power outage
When your modem is plugged into the battery backup, the battery will automatically become your modem’s power source during a power outage, keeping you connected to the Internet.
If your Business phone service utilizes a cordless handset, your cordless phone will be powered by the battery in the phone. If you wish to continue charging your cordless phone, you must plug the handset into the battery backup.
How long will a battery backup provide power?
Assuming the battery backup is only used to power your modem, the battery will typically last for at least 3 hours, depending on its capacity (measured in VA). However, the actual length of time the battery backup can power your modem depends on various factors. See the battery manufacturer’s website for details.
To maximize the efficiency of your battery backup, we recommend only connecting your Bell modem to it.
Please visit the
Call2recycle
website to find a drop-off location that will accept your battery.
