Globe, Smart vow to restore network services in Cebu by March

Globe, Smart vow to restore network services in Cebu by March. (File photo)
Globe, Smart vow to restore network services in Cebu by March. (File photo)

CEBU residents who still do not have internet service seven weeks after Typhoon Odette (Rai) hit Cebu may have to wait five to six more weeks to get reconnected.

Three of the country’s biggest telecommunications companies said they will be able to restore their network services in Cebu by middle of March 2022 yet.

This was the response of Globe Telecom and PLDT and Smart Communications officials to queries on when they could fully restore network services for their subscribers.

In a statement sent to SunStar Cebu, PLDT and Smart’s first vice president and group head of Corporate Communications Cathy Yap-Yang said as of Thursday, February 3, 2022, their wireless network, call, text and mobile data services in Cebu were at around 90 percent restored.

But for fixed network services such as Wi-Fi connections, restoration in some parts of Cebu is still affected by the availability of commercial power and restoration of fiber optic cable facilities.

“These fiber optic cable facilities were gravely damaged when several poles, where these cables are attached, collapsed because of Typhoon Odette,” Yang said.

She said the full restoration of Smart and PLDT’s fixed network services is also dependent on other factors including restoration of collapsed poles, so they can reattach and lay fiber optic cables from main thoroughfares to the inner roads in some areas.

Another reason for the delay is the accidental cuts on some of their restored fiber optic cables due to clearing operations conducted by local government units (LGUs) and other agencies, Yang said.

“We continue to coordinate with the LGUs, electric companies and cooperatives and work double time to address these challenges and fast-track our restoration efforts,” she added.

The absence of internet service forced schools in Cebu to postpone the resumption of online classes after the holidays. Most schools resorted to offline classes and used modules instead of holding classes online.

Without a stable internet connection, services in some government offices, banks and other private establishments were also affected.

In a statement sent to SunStar Cebu on Friday, February 4, Globe Telecom said it has restored 89 percent of its wireless services and around 87 percent of its wired/Fiber to the Home internet services.

But like Smart, Globe also admitted that restoration for its wired services is “more complicated” due to various factors including the availability of commercial power, challenges due to multiple fiber cuts and ongoing road clearing operations by the LGUs and service utility firms.

Internet services still not restored

Though call and text services have been restored, Yang said some parts of Cebu still don’t have internet services because their cell sites are dependent on commercial power.

“Though we have batteries and generator sets to support these facilities, these are not designed for prolonged commercial power unavailability,” she explained.

She added that full restoration can start only after local power companies and LGUs have completed their road clearing and power restoration activities.

Yang added that in some areas in Cebu, power restoration and road clearing are still needed in secondary roads and interior roads.

For Globe Telecom, restoration efforts for wired/Fiber to the Home internet services are more complicated compared to wireless because of “several dependencies.”

“The team needs to identify the cuts by tracing the fiber optic cables from the main source to the different convergence points and posts then up to the homes of our customers. A kilometer of fiber optic cable may have multiple fiber cuts,” Globe Telecom added.

Globe Telecom said in areas where they can restore mobile and internet services, they often prioritize areas with available commercial power.

“Overall duration will depend on the extent of damage seen after power restoration,” Globe Telecom said.

For Smart and PLDT, while simultaneous restoration is being done, they have prioritized the restoration of mobile and internet services depending on commercial power availability, resumption of transmission, command centers and hospitals; major population centers and other critical or necessary locations especially in support of the delivery of public services.

Manpower

Yang said in order to fast-track their restoration efforts, PLDT and Smart have deployed 300 organic employees from Cebu and from their Emergency Response Teams from South and North Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila as well as an additional 700 non-organic personnel from their partner-suppliers and contractors.

For Globe Telecom, its employees and third-party partners have been deployed around Cebu since December 17, 2021, or a day after Typhoon Odette hit Cebu.

Reinforcement teams from Luzon and Mindanao are also in Cebu to assist with the restoration efforts, it said.

“However, there are still challenges considering the magnitude of Odette’s impact and the kind of specialized manpower needed to handle fiber optic cables,” Globe Telecom added.

Erring linemen

Yang said they are also taking note of reports of unscrupulous contractors who allegedly asked for fees in exchange for immediate service restoration.

Though she has yet to receive any reports from Cebu, Yang urged their customers to bring this matter to their attention.

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