Some subscribers of JSC «Kazakhtelecom» in Astana were temporarily left without communication services after 25 fibre-optic cables were damaged during excavation work. The company reported that emergency repair teams have begun addressing the consequences, and the restoration of services is being carried out in stages.
WHAT HAPPENED
According to JSC «Kazakhtelecom», on the afternoon of 21 July, a third-party organisation, while carrying out excavation work using horizontal directional drilling at the intersection of Almaty and Akmeshit streets (the Sauran, 12 area), damaged 25 optical cables of various capacities in the coverage area of ATS-40. As a result, some residents of the capital were temporarily left without communication services.
HOW THE RESTORATION IS PROCEEDING
The company reported that emergency repair teams are working on site. Due to the large scale of the damage and the complexity of the repairs, the reconnection of subscribers is being carried out in stages. The main restoration work was planned to be completed by 23:00.
COMMENT FROM BAGDAT MUSIN
The head of JSC «Kazakhtelecom», Bagdat Musin, reported that emergency teams are working on site without a break. According to him, due to the scale of the damage, the restoration is being carried out in stages. He also apologised to subscribers for the temporary inconvenience and noted that the company is doing everything possible to restore communication services as quickly as possible.
Furthermore, Bagdat Musin stated that such incidents occur regularly, especially during the construction season. According to him, the cause is often excavation work carried out without coordination with the owners of utility networks or without clarifying the location of existing communications.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE CAUSES
JSC «Kazakhtelecom» confirmed that the damage to the cables occurred during excavation work carried out by a third-party organisation. Other details about the contractor or the circumstances of the incident have not been disclosed.
CONTEXT
Previously, «Kazakhtelecom» had already been the subject of public criticism. In particular, economist Eldar Shamsutdinov stated there were difficulties when terminating a contract for the company's services.
According to him, the procedure was accompanied by additional charges, the inability to disconnect remotely, and the need for a personal visit to the office to which the contract was linked.
