Tovic Salvador

Article (news)

Arthur Fuentes

ABS-CBN News

MANILA – The Department of Information and Communications Technology said it is closely tracking telecom networks and deploying satellite internet kits to the country&#x27;s south after a powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake triggered power outages and cut off communication lines.To restore vital links, the government is rushing emergency satellite hardware to the disaster zone.The DICT said it is &quot;monitoring telecommunications and connectivity conditions in affected areas&quot; and coordinating with private firms to maintain vital communication services for rescue teams.Initial assessments revealed varying degrees of damage across Mindanao, the DICT said. <div>TELCO TROUBLES</div>Globe Telecom said there were network service disruptions reported across nine provinces, affecting around 30 municipalities, with restoration efforts ongoing.&quot;Sarangani, South Cotabato, and Sultan Kudarat are among the most affected provinces, accounting for the highest number of municipalities with intermittent network signal following the earthquake. Several network sites have experienced temporary loss of commercial power as local electric cooperatives have shut down services as a safety precaution. These sites are currently using battery backup systems to provide services in the area,&quot; said the Ayala-led telco.&quot;Globe has activated its disaster response protocols even as restoration teams have been mobilized in affected areas,&quot; said Yoly Crisanto, Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer at Globe. The telco said it is also preparing to deploy Libreng Tawag, Libreng Charging, and Libreng Wi-Fi (LTLCLW) services in affected areas as soon as local authorities give the green light for safety.Meanwhile,  Smart reported localized weak signals in hard-hit General Santos City despite overall normal operations.PLDT and Smart said they immediately mobilized field and operations teams to assess network facilities and restore connectivity services. &quot;Among the hardest-hit areas are General Santos City and several municipalities in South Cotabato. Initial assessments indicate that the majority of PLDT and Smart network facilities remain stable and operational. Service interruptions have primarily been linked to commercial power outages affecting certain sites,&quot; PLDT said.The Pangilinan-led telco said it will deploy Starlink satellite broadband services to critical locations and areas identified by local government units as requiring backup connectivity.However, third player DITO reported 54 offline sites across parts of Mindanao, &quot;mainly due to cable cuts and power interruptions,&quot; while maintaining a 95.83 percent service availability rate. Fiber provider Converge reported no major downtime, though several of its facilities are running on backup power following precautionary utility shutdowns.Widespread power outages have crippled internet services in several areas, including General Santos City, South Cotabato, and Koronadal City.&quot;In coordination with the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), DICT is facilitating the immediate deployment of three (3) Starlink units to General Santos and other priority areas in Sarangani Province to support emergency communications,&quot; the agency said.

Widespread power outages have crippled internet services in several areas, including General Santos City, South Cotabato, and Koronadal City.

Widespread power outages have crippled internet services in several areas, including General Santos City, South Cotabato, and Koronadal City.

Most telco infra in Mindanao intact and functioning after strong quake—DICT

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Most telco infra in Mindanao intact and functioning after strong quake—DICT

Arthur Fuentes,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 08, 2026 02:19 PM PHT

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Updated June 09, 2026 10:42 AM PHT

Read More:

DICT

telco infra

Mindanao quake

libreng tawag

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