TelEm Group technicians will be busy changing damaged cables like these in several areas of St. Peters and Saunders starting Saturday (Photo by Steve Simmons)
Pond Island – TelEm Group’s Outside Plant (OSP) technicians and sub-contractors will be replacing badly damaged underground cables in St. Peters, Saunders and surround areas this coming Saturday and for the following eight days, during which internet and landline customers are being told to expect interruptions in service.
The company says it is using the opportunity of reduced traffic in several areas in St. Peters, Retreat Estate, St. Peters Hill, Betty’s Estate and Saunders to locate damaged cables in the Outside Plant’s underground cable network and replace them with upgraded cables.
Acting Manager Outside Plant, Mr. Steve Simmons, says the maintenance works have been long in planning, however could not be tackled on this scale until now, for fear of causing disruption to traffic in what is usually a very busy schools district.
He said the works are scheduled to begin on April 25th, 2020, until May 02, 2020, weather permitting.
The following areas that will be affected are:
Betty’s Estate and Saunders on April 25,2020 From 7:00am to 2:00pm 8hours.
St. Peters, Retreat Estate and St. Peters Hill
April 28,2020 to May 02,2020 From 7:00am to 2:00pm 8hours
“The cables we will be repairing are primary feeder cables, so while the works are ongoing, customers can experience brief interruptions in service as the lines are cut and then reconnected,” explained Mr. Simmons.
He said several teams will be working on the project at the same time, with all workers being required to wear masks and maintain strict social distancing protocols while working in the field.
TelEm Group CEO, Mr. Kendall Dupersoy, has commended the Technical Department and the team of subcontractors who are turning out each day to continue their work of keeping the TelEm Group networks working optimally.
“I am very grateful for the commitment that is being shown by the technicians in the field and for the initiative the department is taking to carry out these repairs in areas that have been quite challenging when it comes to providing the best quality of service from deteriorated cables that have been underground for many years without upgrade or attention,” said Mr. Dupersoy.
He said once completed, the works will result in better quality of service for customers in these areas and the possibility of additional lines for new customers also.
Mr. Dupersoy, and Mr. Simmons have both apologized in advance to customers who will be affected by the intermittent interruptions to their internet and landline services due to these announced maintenance works.
