The Hindu

Authorities expect to set right the problem in next 48 hours 

• Optical fibre cable is damaged beyond repair in many places between Kulai and Suratkal
• Possibility of laying new optical fibre cable to replace damaged ones explored

Mangalore, May 9: The last three days has proved to be a nightmare for 600-odd consumers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) served by Bykampady exchange of the company. The ongoing four-laning project undertaken by National Highways Authority of India between Kulai and Suratkal has left these consumers without telephone connections since Sunday. BSNL authorities expect to set right the problem in next 48 hours.

Assistant general manager and public relations officer of Dakshina Kannada Telecom district of BSNL S.M. Hegde told The Hindu here on Tuesday that BSNL officers have been working continuously to restore the phone lines.

He said that the optical fibre cable had been damaged beyond repair in many places between Kulai and Suratkal owing to the four-laning work. Efforts are being made to restore telephone lines at the earliest, he added.

Repairing the damaged optical fibre cable may not enable BSNL to provide the same quality of voice and data services, he said.

The company is also exploring the possibility of laying new optical fibre cable to replace the damaged ones. At present the aim is to ensure that the connections, which are not working since Sunday, are attended to on a priority basis, he said and added that the process may be completed by Thursday.

Consumers are having a hard time owing to disruption of telephone services.

Broadband services

Apart from not being able to make or receive phone calls, consumers who have availed the broadband service of the company too are left groping.