TelCos Struggle to Get Service Back to Normal in Central PH

Four days after super typhoon Yolanda whacked the region in destruction, Telecommunications companies are struggling to get service back to normal, Gma news online reported.

Ramon R. Isberto, PLDT and Smart Public Affairs group head said “We’re stepping up the deployment of network equipment to more areas so that we can rapidly restore services at strategic areas, such as dense population centers, relief operations centers and vital facilities like airports.”

The online news reported,as of noon Tuesday, Smart Communications Inc. and Sun Cellular operator Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. restored 82 percent of network services in the Visayas. According to Smart, network service is 100% back to normal in Palawan, except in Coron, where only 50 percent of the service has so far been restored, Gma news online said.

Reports added the latest update from Globe Telecom Inc. showing they were able to re-activate up to 54 percent of base stations in the typhoon-stricken areas, as of 6 am Tuesday.

In Samar and Leyte provinces, Globe has said it restored 30 cell sites – 21 in Samar and 9 in Leyte – excluding temporary cell site in Tacloban City. Globe added it raised the number of its ‘Libreng Tawag’ (Free call) and ‘Libreng Charging’ (free phone charging) stations to 12 different sites to include Roxas City, Iloilo, Romblon and Antique.

Reports said there are 28 ‘Libreng Charging’ stations in Ormoc, Leyte, Bohol and Antique, and Globe said it is likewise providing Libreng Internet operations in Antique, undertaken in coordination with the Red Cross, Gma news online reported. Globe major shareholder, SingTel, vowed to give 50,000 Singaporean dollars for the Philippine telco’s relief operations, the online news said.

So that Globe can improve coordination and speed up its efforts in restoring its service and relief operations, Australia’s Optus has donated 150 satellite phones, Gma news online reported.

Smart and Digitel Mobile said they started Libreng Tawag in Borongan, Samar using Smart Satellite Services in partnership with Thuraya Satellite as first-line communications to residents even without power or regular mobile connections, the online news said. In Tacloban City, Gma news online reported PLDT saying Smart and Digitel Mobile has expanded its ‘Libreng Tawag’ service to four sites which was enabled by a second cellsite in the airport area thereby boosting the signal that was made available Monday morning in the downtown area.

PLDT said free mobile phone battery charging services are available at the Smart cellsite in Roxas City in Capiz and Smart cellsite in Old Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan, Gma news online reported.

Super Typhoon Yolanda (international name ‘Haiyan’), the strongest in recorded history, walloped Eastern Visayas region and left a large swathe of destruction last Friday, November 8, 2013.

Source: Gma news online