PNG DataCo network fixed after quake disrupted connection

MOBILE networks and broadband internet access for PNG DataCo customers have been restored following the disruption caused by the 7.2-magnitude earthquake last Thursday.
The earthquake struck near the town of Bulolo, according to SES Networks.
Connectivity for DataCo customers was disrupted because of the damage to critical nodes of terrestrial and subsea transmission infrastructures between Port Moresby and Madang.
SES Networks technicians used an additional O3b Medium Earth Orbit beam to deliver an extra 1.5 Gbps of low-latency IP Transit service to ease network congestion on DataCo’s damaged primary link.
The additional bandwidth was made available within hours of receiving a request from DataCo.
Imran Malik Khan, the vice-president of global fixed data sales for SES Networks said: “Together with DataCo, we are glad that connectivity has been restored swiftly to enable communication and critical disaster recovery services.
“We recognise the importance of communications services in the event of natural disasters to facilitate quicker information transfer between families and communities, as well as to coordinate recovery and search-and-rescue operations.”
PNG DataCo managing director Paul Komboi said: “It is our duty to provide the essential communications links for our customers to connect with their loved ones and facilitate critical business and operational activities.”
He said SES’s O3b MEO satellites provided a “reliable, high-throughput and low-latency solution in our time of need”.