Internet resumption still shaky after Taiwan quake

Authorities in Hong Kong have warned of Internet and email congestion when businesses reopen after the festive break as workers scramble to repair undersea cables hit by a quake last week. Muzi.com News 10031082-0 (muzi.com)

Repairs to the data cables will be completed progressively until the end of January, Hong Kong's Office of the Telecommunications Authority said Monday. Muzi.com News 10031082-1 (muzi.com)

While many Internet links have been restored since the 7.1-magnitude quake off Taiwan's coast last Tuesday, access remains slow in many areas. Muzi.com News 10031082-2 (muzi.com)

Exacerbating the delay in getting services back to normal is a major fault on one of two repair ships despatched to the Luzon Strait between Taiwan and the Philippines to fix the cables. Muzi.com News 10031082-3 (muzi.com)

The ship had to be sent back to port for urgent repairs of its own and is expected to be out of action for a week. Muzi.com News 10031082-4 (muzi.com)

"As most businesses and schools (staff) will resume operations (Tuesday), Internet users visiting overseas websites may experience slow response or congestion," the Hong Kong authority said in a statement. Muzi.com News 10031082-5 (muzi.com)

"Emails to and from overseas servers, especially those with large files such as images, will take a longer time than usual to reach destinations." Muzi.com News 10031082-6 (muzi.com)

It urged users to avoid all non-essential activities to and from overseas sites. Muzi.com News 10031082-7 (muzi.com)

Telephone and Internet traffic in many parts of Asia was severely disrupted by the quake, which also killed two people on Taiwan, and highlighted growing dependence on the web for everything from business to blogging. Muzi.com News 10031082-8 (muzi.com)

Efforts to circumvent the damage by funnelling data through alternative routes have eased some of the communication woes, however. Muzi.com News 10031082-9 (muzi.com)

Taiwan's largest operator, Chunghwa Telecom, said three boats contracted to repair the fiber-optic undersea cables were en route to the scene, with the first due to arrive Tuesday and the second a day later. Muzi.com News 10031082-10 (muzi.com)

Deputy general manager Lin Jen-hon estimated the repair of the four damaged spots could be completed by January 19. Muzi.com News 10031082-11 (muzi.com)

Lin said Chunghwa Telecom had restored much of its service by re-routing of networks. Muzi.com News 10031082-12 (muzi.com)

Voice lines to Europe, the United States, Japan, Hong Kong and Thailand are back to normal while lines to the Philippines and India are 50 percent of the normal levels, Lin added. Muzi.com News 10031082-13 (muzi.com)

An unnnamed official at China Telecom said telecommunication and Internet connections would not be fully restored until January 15, the Beijing Times reported Monday. Muzi.com News 10031082-14 (muzi.com)

The newspaper said that as of Sunday morning, China Telecom's voice services had returned to full capacity, whereas Internet connections were at 70 percent of usual capacity. Muzi.com News 10031082-15 (muzi.com)

In Bangkok, the communications authority CAT Telecom said that it expected an improvement by mid-January if Taiwan managed to fix Thailand's main link. Muzi.com News 10031082-16 (muzi.com)

"Internet access in Thailand is still as bad as the first day that they experienced the crash but I hope after they repair the underwater cable on January 14, it'll improve," said Suthas Lertnapapan, vice president for international networks at CAT Telecom. Muzi.com News 10031082-17 (muzi.com)

"Internet links to the Pacific rim from Thailand are only working to Hong Kong but totally cut to South Korea," he added. Muzi.com News 10031082-18 (muzi.com)

"However, I think that when business re-opens on January 3, the situation will improve."