South Africa: Severe storms damage MTN infrastructure and disrupt connectivity

South Africa: severe storms damage MTN infrastructure and disrupt connectivity.

On Monday 9 October 2017, parts of Johannesburg, South Africa, were hit with severe storms. The storms, according to telecommunications company, MTN, resulted in widespread power outages across many parts of Gauteng and have in turn had an impact on some MTN infrastructure.

MTN revealed on Tuesday 10 October 2017 that the company's engineers and service partners worked throughout the night to restore connectivity. The company also confirmed that mobile generators have been deployed to as many of the affected sites as possible to power the sites and restore connectivity for our customers. Despite these efforts, approximately 80 sites remain without power.

“MTN South Africa is working diligently to restore services to those affected customers affected by this ferocious storm. We have activated our business continuity plan to ensure that services are maintained at the levels consumers and business customers expect," said Jacqui O'Sullivan, Executive Corporate Affairs at MTN SA.

"The Yaldwyn Power Station that caught fire in Jetpark, in the east of Johannesburg, has also resulted in extensive power outages. Most of our transmission network and radio networks are equipped with battery back-up and in some cases mobile generators.

However, these are short-term solutions, so we are doing all we can to support the necessary power supply repairs that will get our services back up and running for our customers.”

Edited by Dean Workman
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