Hong Kong: Earthquake . . . update on the impact on Hong Kong telecomunications

The following is an update by the (Hong Kong Government) Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA) as at 11am today (December 28) on the impact on external telecommunication services due to the earthquake near Taiwan on December 26: info.gov.hk

Of note:

Latest Service Status:
Operators have implemented contingency plans and arrange re-routing of the traffic via all other cables which are still in service. At present, voice call services including IDD calls and roaming calls to most of the countries/territories except for Taiwan have nearly resumed normal. However, Internet access to overseas web sites is still congested.

Repairing Status:
Two submarine cable maintenance ships from Singapore and the Philippines are on the way to the scene. Three more ships will depart today.

In general, it requires about five to seven days to repair the cables. However, due to the earthquake, the seabed may have been damaged and there may be further earthquakes that will affect the maintenance work.

Ends/Thursday, December 28, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:39

According to RTHK, Hong Kong is served by seven undersea cables, six have been knocked out.

Update. Oh, the latest OFTA report confirms six out seven . . .