Both Vodacom and Telkom experienced network outages on Friday morning as prolonged load shedding take a toll at cellular towers. When power to cellular towers is cut off, battery back-up kicks in – but Vodacom told Business Insider SA that these offer limited power and will eventually also fail.
Telkom, which has an agreement to roam on Vodacom’s network, said load shedding is affecting the network towers’ back-up support.
Hi there , sorry for the recent inconvenience. The current electricity load shedding is affecting the network towers back up support hence the unstable network , the problem will always arise when there are power cuts however we are looking for solutio… https://t.co/Vy3cm0BMaG
— Telkom (@TelkomZA) February 7, 2020
Vodacom said it has put a number of proactive measures in place to help mitigate the effects of widespread load shedding.
“For instance, we have deployed generators at numerous sites across the country and are working as hard as possible to keep customers connected,” Vodacom told Business Insider South Africa.
It said it has spent millions to install back-up power at its facilities, such as diesel generators and batteries.
On Twitter, Vodacom and Telkom clients expressed frustration about the loss of signal:
What’s going on with your network?I’m even struggling to do my work
— Radoi-Ra (@Rofhiwa_Robz) February 6, 2020
Is the power out? Network tends to disappear when the power is out.
— Mashiya’Mahle (@ChleMpila) February 7, 2020
Roshnee has no signal as soon the electricity goes . Pathetic
— Dr. Fathima Mahomed (PhD) (@FathimaM3) February 7, 2020
@TelkomZA what is going on with the network today?? What cable got damaged this time Unable to make calls or receive calls. For months now I’ve been have endless issues with Telkom! I moved over from Vodacom to Telkom & it’s by far the worst thing I decided to do!!!
— Sandra Carvalho (@SandraC25069869) February 7, 2020
My phone just switched to Vodacom ♂️ it’s been saying no network since yesterday
— Sort Of African (@MzwaLaGiant) February 7, 2020
Some clients complained that they have not had a cellular signal since Thursday.
Other networks were not as affected, it seems.
Eskom CEO André de Ruyter in January warned that load shedding, or rolling blackouts, will likely continue for 18 months as the struggling utility completes maintenance on ageing maintenance plants.
Business Insider previously reported that during load shedding, vandalism of South African cellular infrastructure nearly doubles.
In other news – Babes Wodumo strikes with a new short hair cut – Pictures
We are not so sure what made her go for the short hair cut, but Babes looks absolutely smarter in her new look. We guess Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi has greatly influenced a lot of people to go for the natural hairstyle.
Gqom singer, Babes Wodumo opens a new page for her look, as she’s seen rocking a new crown. continue reading
Source: business insider tech
