Update on Spark network, following yesterday’s power outage

Tuesday, 13 December 2016, 2:58 pm
Press Release: Spark NZ

Update on Spark network, following yesterday’s power outage in Gisborne

Following yesterday’s fatal light plane crash and a subsequent power outage in the Gisborne area, Spark has been closely monitoring and actively managing its network in the region and working hard to deploy generators across the region. While the network is performing well there may be some localised impacts and mobile network congestion.

As at 1.30pm today there are three mobile sites without power. Generators are en route to these sites at Barry Park, Makaraka and Pututahi and they are expected to be up and running later today. Customers may experience degraded or intermittent mobile performance as a result and our team is in the process of deploying these generators as a matter of urgency.

There are a small number of landline customers (90) whose services are still impacted due to a lack of power to the local Chorus cabinets and similarly approx. 1800 broadband customers.

Spark apologises for any inconvenience caused. Local authorities have advised that the outage may take some time to resolve so we recommend that customers in the area conserve mobile phone battery life and use Voice and SMS services rather than data if possible.

For further information on the power outage, we recommend people monitor Civil Defence, Eastland Network or Gisborne Council communications channels

For further information on Spark, customers can contact us via:

Customer Care - 123

Customer Care (small and medium business) – 0800 110 062

Spark Digital Customers – please contact your Client Manager

Additional Background:

Mobile cell towers and access cabinets feeding these cell sites depend on a power source for the provision of both the cell site equipment and the back-haul services back to the cellular networks. Mobile towers have backup battery power but battery life has a finite limit which can be affected by traffic volumes. Generators are deployed as an alternative power source and cell-sites are prioritised according to coverage and traffic volume.

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