Smart Telecommunications said its mobile phone services are available in 80 percent of the cities and municipalities of Northern and Central Luzon despite the impact of typhoon “Lawin.”
Smart services were most severely affected in the provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, Benguet, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Kalinga and Mountain Province.
Pre-positioned teams of engineers and technicians are now working round the clock to restore wireless communications services in the affected areas, according to a Smart advisory.
The advisory noted “no significant damage to Smart’s network infrastructure has been reported so far but power outages are hampering the restoration of services.”
Amid the restoration efforts, Smart is providing free call and free charging services to affected communities.
Smart is now offering “Libreng Tawag” using Smart Satellite Phones at Santa Bridge, located in Brgy. Sta. Tumauini, Isabela. “Libreng Charging” services are also available at Aurora Telecoms in Baler, Aurora. More
“Libreng Tawag” Centers are expected to be opened later.
The company has also deployed satellite communication services to the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Office of Civil Defense, and response units for use during relief operations.
These initiatives for network resiliency, rapid response and disaster preparedness are part of Smart’s advocacy which was launched in late 2012, it said.