Iceland telecom agency urges eclipse travellers to save emergency number

Iceland’s telecommunications regulator has urged travellers to prepare for heavy network traffic and save an emergency number ahead of Wednesday’s total solar eclipse, mbl.is reports.

The Telecommunications Agency said the advice was particularly important for people visiting remote areas. The eclipse will be the first total solar eclipse visible in Iceland since 1954, and many people are expected to travel west, where it will last the longest.

Travellers are advised to save Neyðarlínan’s backup number, 599 0112. The number may be important when contacting emergency services in areas with limited mobile coverage.

The agency also asked people to be patient with internet access, as mobile and data networks may face heavy demand at popular destinations and in sparsely populated areas.

Many visitors will want to share their experiences, send photos and videos or stream content, but network capacity outside urban areas may not match what people are used to, the agency said.

Preparing in advance and using networks considerately will help improve safety and service for everyone travelling around the country, it added.