New Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in coordination with telecom service providers, is undertaking restoration efforts to ensure the continuity of essential communication services in areas affected by Cyclone Arnab along the coasts of Andhra Pradesh and Odisha.
Heavy rain, flash floods, fallen trees and power disruptions have affected telecom services in parts of the two states and adjoining regions, according to an official release on Friday.
Restoration work is underway in affected districts, with emergency connectivity arrangements, including Intra-Circle Roaming (ICR) and Cell on Wheels deployments, being maintained to support public communication and relief operations.
In Andhra Pradesh, overall network availability has reached 99.18 per cent. In the affected districts, availability stands at 98.5 per cent in West Godavari and 91.96 per cent in Dr B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema.
Disruptions to commercial power supply and localised cuts to optical fibre cables remain the main challenges to restoration.
ICR is operational across affected districts, allowing subscribers to connect to available networks irrespective of their service provider. Eleven Cell on Wheels units have also been deployed to provide emergency communication facilities.
In Odisha, the situation in Ganjam, Gajapati and Kandhamal districts is gradually improving as rainfall eases and floodwaters recede.
"Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have initiated restoration work at affected sites, resulting in progressive improvement in network connectivity and a reduction in service disruptions," the release said.
Telecom operators are continuing restoration work on a priority basis to bring the remaining affected sites back online and ensure the early normalisation of services.
The DoT said the government and service providers were monitoring the network situation and coordinating efforts to maintain essential communication services in the affected regions.