By Ahmed Rayyan

Heavy rains and flood have damaged telecommunication and internet infrastructure in many cities of Khyber-Pakhtoonkhawa as telecom operators’ services have been badly affected.

The cellular sites of mobile, wireless and Wimax operators, underground optic fibers and cables of the landline and DSL are feared to have been destroyed in flood-hit and adjoining areas.

As a result, users of telephony and internet services have been unable to use services as a result of which they have become cut off from the outside world.

Northwest parts of KPK, Gilgit-Baltistan and some areas of Baluchsitan have been affected badly by torrential rains which have continued for the last two days.

The situation of Kabul River is out of control and the intensity of the floods has been increasing as reported in the media. Hence, more areas will be affected in the coming days, which which further damage telecom infrastructure thus increasing losses of the telecom operators and internet service providers.

Industry experts said that the BTS (Base Transceiver Stations) of different operators could be damaged owing to intense and continuous downpour in some areas, which has also caused losses to the operators and internet service providers providing services in those areas.

Moreover, electricity is not available in flood-hit and adjoining areas as damaged infrastructure of the power companies has suspended electricity supply in many areas.

Many relatives have tried in vain to contact their family members on phone in these areas but they were unable to connect through their operators.

Source: Telecom Recorder