TWELVE days ago there were 65,000 telephone landlines off the air after Warrnambool’s Telstra exchange fire — now there are less than 5000.
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Repair crews are aiming to have all the region’s Telstra-linked services back up by Saturday morning.
Other national communication providers with equipment in the Koroit Street exchange are also awaiting completion of the repair effort to get their full services back.
Telstra regional manager Bill Mundy told The Standard yesterday that there were 100 workers continuing the huge repair effort to get ADSL internet and landlines connected.
Most of the remaining customers without service are in Warrnambool including one major accommodation provider who said yesterday he was operating on one diversion mobile number and had lost tens of thousands of dollars worth of bookings.
“It’s been a mammoth task to install new equipment and wiring to repair services,” Mr Mundy said.
“On Friday alone we put in eight kilometres of new cabling,” he told The Standard.
“By Saturday morning all remaining customers still without service should be back.
“The ADSL system is being totally rebuilt.
“We are manually re-wiring Warrnambool customers to the new equipment.
“Some country areas including Garvoc without service will have coverage through temporary satellite service until landlines are fixed.”
