NTC orders telcos to fast-track restoration of services; provide free call, charging

The National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) on Thursday ordered all public telecommunications entities to expedite the repair and restoration of their services in areas severely hit by Typhoon Ulysses.

In a memorandum, NTC Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba said the order was “pursuant to the instruction from the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).”

“Please accelerate the mobilization and transport of your respective technical/service personnel and equipment to the affected areas immediately,’ Cordoba said.

The NTC also directed telcos to Libreng Tawag and Libreng Charging station in strategic areas affected by the typhoon.

“You are also reminded to coordinate with the local government units and observe strict health protocols to avoid transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),” the NTC chief said.

READ: The National Telecommunications Commission directs telcos to expedite repair and restoration of telecom services amid #TyphoonUlyssesPH | @Ted_Cordero pic.twitter.com/2hFoUHP6RJ

— GMA News (@gmanews) November 12, 2020

“The Commission will expect a status update every six hours of ongoing restoration activities being performed on your network and a timeline for the full restoration of service,” he said.

In separate advisories, PLDT-Smart and Globe said situation monitoring, repair and restoration works will begin as the weather improves. 

“We will continue to provide service updates to our customers, while repairs for areas flooded will resume as soon as access and safety is secured,” Globe said.

“Our teams are monitoring the situation and will work to restore services as soon as it is safe to do so,” PLDT-Smart First Vice President and Group Head of Corporate Communications Cathy Yang said.

“Our network personnel, resources, and equipment have been prepositioned to work on sites affected by Typhoon Ulysses,” Yang added.

PLDT-Smart also closed several of its stores in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Nueva Vizcaya and Pangasinan in North Luzon, and South Luzon except those in Bicol.

Globe, likewise, closed all its stores in the Greater Manila Area and some in North, South, and Central Luzon.

Globe said its network remained stable as of Thursday afternoon although “there were major multiple fiber cuts reported” in some areas in Luzon.

Meanwhile, PLDT-Smart said it is ready to provide Libreng Tawag, Libreng Charging and Libreng Wifi services “where the public needs it most, once it is safe to do so.”—LDF, GMA News