Telcos work briskly to restore links hit by Cyclone Phailin

The telecom operators’ association — Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) — said on Monday that companies have mobilised resources to restore communication facilities to victims of the Cyclone Phailin that has severely affected the telecom networks of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

The telecom operators’ association — Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) — said on Monday that companies have mobilised resources to restore communication facilities to victims of the Cyclone Phailin that has severely affected the telecom networks of Odisha and Andhra Pradesh.

A COAI statement said as per the status received till October 13, 2013, around 3,472 out of 12,163 telecom sites in Odisha and 74 out of 33,742 telecom sites in Andhra Pradesh, belonging to COAI member operators, have been affected by Phailin.

“Despite all the difficulties, the operators are working 24x7 to restore the services and help reach out to the people in affected areas,” said Rajan S Mathews, director general, COAI.

Vodafone has managed to restore 593 out of its 12,89 sites in Odisha. Aircel’s 1,502 sites were affected in Odisha out of which 622 were restored. Idea has restored 242 out of the 733 sites affected in Odisha. In Andhra Pradesh, all affected sites of COAI members have been restored including six affected sites of Uninor.