Quake affects telco, power services in Bohol, Cebu

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – Telecommunications and power services in Cebu and Bohol were hit after a magnitude 7.2 earthquake rocked Central Visayas on Tuesday, October 15.

In separate statements, Smart Communications and Globe Telecom said they are dealing with the impact of the shallow earthquake on their infrastructure and other services.

“Operations of Sun Cellular in the two provinces have been affected by damage to its transmission facilities, but Smart and Sun engineers are working to normalize services shortly,” it said.

Both the Sun Cellular and Smart brands are under the Philippine Long Distance Telephone Co. (PLDT) umbrella controlled by the group of businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan. Together, the two brands control about 70% of the mobile services in the country.

“Smart’s mobile phone service in Bohol and Cebu remains largely operational despite the damage inflicted on some cell sites and network facilities,” it added.

Globe, on the other hand, said its “network in the Visayas region did not sustain any significant damage.” This was based on the “initial assessment” made by its local network personnel.

Key Globe facilities in Lahug, Talisay, Abacus, San Remegio, Dauin, Cadiz, Iloilo, Roxas, Ormoc and Tacloban “incurred no damage and are fully operational,” the Ayala-led telecom firm said. 

Power outage

Both telco providers stressed that they are also watching out for power disruptions. 

“Smart’s mobile phone service in Bohol and Cebu remains largely operational despite the damage inflicted on some cell sites and network facilities,” it added.

“We are deploying generator sets to power key cell sites and keep mobile phone and internet services running,” Smart said.

Residents in affected areas, as well as rescue and relief groups, may access Smart stations offering free call services and mobile phone charging.

“Power outage in earthquake-damaged areas like Tagbilaran in Bohol may adversely affect operations in some of the company’s base stations,” said Robert Tan, Globe Chief Technical Adviser.

He also emphasized that “continuous site damage assessment is being conducted in all sites hit by the earthquake as a standard operating procedure.” – Rappler.com