SEVERAL parts of the Visayas have experienced disruptions of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) phone line services due to cable breaks.
Aside from the fixed lines and data services of PLDT, Smart Communications’ global system for mobile communications (GSM) services for 2G/3G voice and SMS were also affected.
The service interruption was first noticed at around 9 a.m. yesterday.
Smart’s public affairs office for the Visayas and Mindanao confirmed that aside from Cebu, Tacloban and Negros, specifically Bacolod, also suffered service interruptions.
PLDT and Smart individual and corporate subscribers complained of not being able to make voice calls or send SMS to mobile users of other networks. Many subscribers, including some banks, also complained of latent or absence of Internet service.
Cable breaks
Smart Visayas-Mindanao public affairs chief Ma. Jane Paredes said the Tacloban-Ormoc cable breakage was caused by a heavy equipment used in a Department of Public Works and Highway-initiated road widening project.
The second cut was found underwater between Bantayan (Cebu) and Bacolod (Negros Occidental).
“We are still investigating that. That’s more difficult (to establish the cause) because it’s underwater,” she said, adding that submarine cable breaks in the past were caused by either dynamite or trawl fishing.
“Restoration works are ongoing,” Paredes said.
In its advisory, Smart and PLDT apologized to customers. The company said it expects its services to return to normal “soon.” (DME)
