Christchurch earthquake: summary of Telecom NZ actions

Telecom currently has the following actions under way in response to the Christchurch earthquake

• Telecom’s network business, Chorus, has brought in 100 additional technicians, engineers and managers from around the country to help with ongoing restoration work and investigation of over 1300 network sites. Chorus continues to attempt to access sites as soon as possible, subject to damage and civil defence requirements, to investigate physical damage to network infrastructure, with an emphasis on maintaining core parts of the network

• 111 services are fully available

• Telecom contact centres in other parts of the country, including Wellington and Hamilton, have taken over managing calls usually dealt with by Christchurch-based contact centres

• Telecom is supporting the Red Cross 0900 appeal. So far over 800 calls have been made, donating over $16,000

• Telecom has ensured all Civil Defence social assistance sites have telecommunications service since Saturday, for example through the provision of temporary mobile sites

• Gen-i continues to provide close support to its infrastructure and government clients, including the Ministry of Social Development, to ensure they have the telecommunications and IT systems they require to do what they need to do. At the same time, Gen-i is working closely with banking and insurance providers as well as construction firms, to support rebuild and recovery activities across Canterbury

• Telecom has made 300 payphones in and around Christchurch free for local, national and mobile calls. Over 2,000 calls have already been made, which adds up to almost 4,700 minutes. Of the calls made to landlines, 49% of them were made within the Canterbury region with the next highest being Auckland, with 9%

• Telecom WiFi hotspots across Christchurch are also free, enabling people without internet access to use free wireless broadband

• Telecom is also providing free call diverts for its retail customers who are unable to use their home phones, and has provided practical information for customers on how to check and restore their telecommunications services through local press and radio

• Telecom is also providing all practical means of support to its nearly 1500 people based in Christchurch, including housing assistance, counselling and support, paid leave and home security.

ENDS

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