Indian cellcos fixing cyclone-hit networks

Dylan Bushell-Embling
15 Oct 2013
00:00

Indian mobile operators are scrambling to repair their networks after Cyclone Phailin damaged thousands of cell sites in two states.

The disaster damaged over 3,500 GSM cell sites in Odisha and Andhra Pradesh, according to COAI, the industry body representing the nation's GSM operators.

Cyclone Phailin, which also forced nearly a million people to evacuate and destroyed thousands of properties, was India's worst in 14 years.

But COAI said in a statement that its members are working around the clock to restore services, and that more than 40% of the damaged sites were restored within 24 hours of the storm hitting.

Mobile operators have agreed to share spectrum during the recovery phase so services remain uninterrupted.

In the Philippines meanwhile, PLDT mobile units Smart and Digitel are offering a free mobile handset battery recharging service to Luzon residents left without power after Typhoon Santi.

The companies are offering the service at around 35 cell sites in the Central and Northern Luzon regions, and at selected offices and stores.

Electricity may take up to a week to restore in the worst-hit areas of the region.

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