Smart, Globe services disrupted in Glenda-hit areas due to power outage

Mobile phone subscribers of Globe, Smart, Sun Cellular, and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) in Glenda-hit areas may experience service problems as cell sites were affected by power outages in the wake of Typhoon Glenda.

 

In a text advisory, the PLDT Group said its facilities in Metro Manila, Regions 3, 4 and 5 were not damaged by the heavy winds and rains brought by the typhoon.

 

"But widespread commercial power outages have disrupted normal services in various areas," the advisory read.

 

To provide service, they have installed standby power in its facilities for fixed line and mobile networks.

 

"Prolonged outages will disrupt normal services once the internal batteries in equipment run out," it said.

 

The PLDT Group includes PLDT, Smart Communications Inc. and Digitel Mobile Philippines Inc. 

 

"We wish to assure the public that we are exerting every effort to restore normal operations as soon as possible," the telcos said in a statement posted on Facebook. 

 

Rival Globe Telecom said areas heavily affected by Typhoon Glenda are also experiencing service disruption due to commercial power outages.

 

"In its initial network assessment report mobile services were affected in Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Marinduque, Masbate, Quezon and Sorsogon," said the Ayala unit in an emailed statement.

 

Globe corporate communications head Yoly Crisanto said cell sites are equipped with alternative power sources such as batteries and generator sets to continue working.

 

While some cell site antennas have been reportedly damaged by the strong winds, no major infrastructure damage has been reported, she added.

 

"Our on-ground technical team are continuously providing reports and doing site assessments for immediate service recovery," she said, adding that they are preparing to provide "libreng tawag" facilities in typhoon-hit areas. 

 

Early Wednesday, Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) said power has been cut in 90 percent of its franchise area after the typhoon shut down transmission lines in the Luzon grid and damaged electric poles in Metro Manila.

 

Glenda, the strongest typhoon to hit the country so far this year, barrelled through the Bicol Region, the Southern Tagalog Region, Metro Manila, and Central Luzon on Tuesday and Wednesday.

 

As of this posting, the typhoon has weakened, packing maximum sustained winds of 140 kilometers/hour and gustiness of up to 170 kph. It was spotted 87 km west of Olongapo City. — JST, GMA News