Fiber Network Damaged in 11 Locations, 4000 Towers Powerless – Full Restoration Expected by Tomorrow (4)

 Deputy Minister of Digital Economy, Eranga Weeraratne, stated that telephone and internet communication networks, which have collapsed across the island due to the prevailing disaster situation, are expected to be fully restored by tomorrow (04). At a time when communication facilities are essential for people affected by the disaster to exchange information with their friends and relatives,

he pointed out that the Ministry of Digital Economy, the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, and all telephone service companies are working diligently together to manage this situation.

The inter-provincial fiber network was disconnected in 11 locations due to landslides and floods, and with the direct intervention of the Ministry, steps have been taken to repair 09 of these locations within a short period of 24 hours.

Currently, the telecommunication network has been updated to cover all provinces, and communication activities are successfully carried out via fiber technology in all areas except for a few intermediate locations. Due to power outages and damage to fiber optic cables amidst the disaster, over 4000 main transmission towers were inactive, but approximately 2800 of them have now been reactivated by the relevant sectors.

The Deputy Minister stated yesterday (02) to the media that approximately 949 of the remaining inactive towers are due to power disconnections, and telecommunication institutions, with the full support of the tri-forces, are working to reach these locations, swiftly provide electricity, and reactivate them. Currently, communication issues persist in the Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Puttalam, and Vavuniya districts, with significant disruptions identified particularly in the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya areas.

However, plans are in place to restore over 75% of connectivity in the Nuwara Eliya and Puttalam districts by tomorrow morning, and to increase the existing 65% coverage in the Kandy district to 70% by tomorrow.

Immediately after the disaster situation began on November 28, there was a technical readiness to maintain at least SMS facilities if voice calls were not possible, but as fiber connectivity was largely restored by the 29th, the need for that alternative method did not arise. Currently, over 80% of the entire communication network has been restored, and Deputy Minister Eranga Weeraratne further expressed confidence that it would be 100% complete by the day after tomorrow.