Cell phone sector incurs Rs1.36b loss by flood

ISLAMABAD: The cellular phone sector has incurred the loss of around Rs 1.36 billion as a result of damages hit its infrastructure so far.

Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications (MoIT) has prepared an assessment reports in order to evaluate the damages and losses of the telecom sector. The boundary walls and tower bases have collapsed and equipment such as BTS, BSC and DC Power System damaged due to water accumulation inside the site.

A telecom news website on Monday reported that Telenor's infrastructure was hit the worst in the wake of flash floods and heavy rains in different parts of the country. It faced losses of Rs 438.6 million after its 86 BTS were destructed.

The total affected BTS or cellular sites are 648 in which 86 are still affected and rest of them are restored by its technicalstaff on war footing.

Mobilink incurred losses of Rs 331.5 million as its 65 BTS have been inundated. Its overall 1,688 sites affected have been restored in different cities. Ufone losses reported to stand at Rs 113 million after its BTS and DC Power Equipment damaged in 16 locations. Zong's 96 damages BTS cost it around Rs 236.3 million whereas its 229 sites have been affected by heavy rains.

Warid expenses accrued to Rs 249.9 million to repair its 49 sites.

Its 332 sites are made workable after urgent operations in different cities. The expenses of cellular operators to restore their network will increase manifold with the surge of number of damage sites to be disclosed more by flood. - APP