Telecom Media Advisory: Canterbury earthquake - update 5pm, Friday 25 February

Overall the Telecom network is up and working, all Telecom exchanges are operational with a combination of mains and generated power , as are the majority of mobile sites .

We recommend people in Christchurch continue to minimise the use of mobile phones, and use text messages instead of calls when possible to free up the network for emergency response workers. However, as the network is now predominantly up and stable people should use their phones for important calls.

Our focus remains on assisting the people of Christchurch. Telecom’s team on the ground and across the country is working around the clock to provide every support possible.

Telecom has partnered with the New Zealand Red Cross to supply the official txt-to-donate fundraising service for the New Zealand Red Cross 2011 Earthquake Appeal. New Zealanders can text 4419 to make an automatic $3 donation to the Appeal. Telecom is providing this service free-of-charge, and w e encourage New Zealanders to include a message of support for the people of Canterbury in the body of these SMS which can be publicly broadcast.

260 payphones and 3 wifi hotspots at Telecom Riccarton Mall, Café Zero (Cashmere Rd), and the Westpac Centre (Addington) continue to be available for people in Christchurch to use for free.

Telecom customers in Christchurch can have their landline number diverted to another number for free. To do this, residential customers can call us on 120 and business customers can call us on 125. A relief package from Telecom Wholesale is enabling other telecommunications retailers to support their affected home and business customers as well .

There will be no further updates until mid-morning tomorrow, Saturday 26 February.

ADVICE FOR PEOPLE IN CHRISTCHURCH:

• Change your voicemail message to let callers know the time, date and their location and, if possible, alternate contact details to provide some reassurance should mobile phone batteries go flat given the difficulties with power supply.

• Where possible, use corded landline phones that plug directly into the wall as these do not require power.

• Customers with friends or family with a prepaid Telecom mobile can call 0800 32 32 32 and top up their prepaid credit on their behalf.

For previous updates, please go to: http://www.telecom-media.co.nz/

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