Telecom revival

N EARLY 85 per cent of Western Samoa’s cyclone-damaged tele communications services is back in action, according to Barry Bailey, Director, Operations for Telecom Net works and International. “Cyclone Ofa devastated Western Samoa’s telecom munications facilities and networks,” says

Bailey.

Telecom New Zealand and the New

Zealand Government responded by joint

ly funding a NZ$l.4 million aid prog ramme which has included technical ser vices from 38 Telecom staff, and the provision of 12 vehicles, a tractor and over 40 tonnes of parts and supplies.

The cyclone damaged three exchanges

beyond repair, and left 90 per cent of radio bearers and 85 per cent of exter nal plant out of service. Salt water had

seeped into pressurised underground

cables threatening further damage in the

cyclone’s wake.

At least 70 per cent of the major underground cabling work and 60 per cent of overhead cabling has been recon structed. 90 per cent of the important village radio network and the Salelologa exchange have been restored to opera tion. n