Services disrupted: PLDT cables in QC hit by Globe Telecom digging

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – PLDT Incorporated on Friday, July 8, told its subscribers within the vicinity of Quezon Avenue and Timog Avenue in Quezon City that its services in the area are unavailable after its cables were toppled.

In an advisory, PLDT informed customers within those areas that its voice and data services are currently disrupted, after the telco’s fiber optic cables were hit by an ongoing underground digging of a contractor of Globe Telecom Incorporated.

“Our repair teams have been in the area since last night (Thursday), but heavy rains prevented them from repairing the affected cables. With the improvement in the weather, we hope to restore services within 24 hours,” PLDT said in the advisory.

“We apologize for the inconvenience that this service disruption has brought our customers in the affected areas. We ask for your patience and understanding as we endeavor to restore services as soon as possible,” PLDT added.

Globe: Such accidents happen

In a statement, Globe Telecom said it is doing infrastructure works to connect the Bayantel site located in Quezon City to its own mobile network.

“The company assigned one its contractors Levinson to implement the necessary infrastructure works. In the process of doing drilling activities along Scout Reyes corner Quezon Avenue, the contractor accidentally hit one of the PLDT lines,” the telco said in its statement.

“Such accidents do happen in the course of drilling and excavation works to embed terrestrial fiber cables in our public roads. It is inherent in our line of business and all telcos experience these hazards at any time,” Globe senior vice-president for corporate communications Yoly Crisanto said.

“Fiber cuts could be caused by any telco contractor or even the DPWH which is why built-in redundancies in our respective networks are important,” Crisanto added. – Rappler.com