AFTER Councilor George Goking’s bid for a clean, orderly, and peaceful Election Day on May 9, Sunday, the National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued a directive to public telecommunications entities and internet service providers to prepare for a day.
“This is to avoid a possible surge in internet traffic during Election Day (May 9),” said Goking, adding that with the NTC’s effort, Telcos' services will be boosted.
He said that the objective is to “ensure minimal disruption and downtime strictly complying with the prescribed service performance standards at all times.”
Goking also said among the reason NTC issued an order to preempt internet traffic was “projected to increase considerably” during the election proper.
“Accelerating ICT infrastructure buildup, and improving telecommunications services are critical components of this agenda,” according to Goking.
Meanwhile, NTC for northern Mindanao regional director Teodoro Buenavista said the NTC-10 already issued an Emergency Response on Telecom services for the 2022 polls.
“Internet service providers should observe a “heightened level of emergency preparedness,” said Buenavista.
He said that also to ensure the connectivity and reliability of telecommunications services during the conduct of the National and Local Elections.
The following Telecom operators that Buenavista addressed were Globe Telecom (Islacom-TM, Cherry Mobile, Innove, Bayantel); Smart Communications (Mobiline-Talk&Text, Digitel-Sun Cellular, Red Mobile, PLDT), and the DITO Telecommunity.
“The objective is to ensure minimal disruption and downtime strictly complying with the prescribed service performance standards at all times,” Buenavista said.
Telcos were also directed to speed up their maintenance efforts, increase internet or broadband capacities, and ensure that business continuity and disaster recovery protocols are in place and functioning, 24 hours a day.
“Within an hour if the affected site is within the area where the service crew is located and within 4 hours if the affected site is outside of the area where the service crew is located, said Buenavista as he referred to the network restoration response time.
He said he even directed Telcos for the activation of their emergency response teams (ERT).
Buenavista cited the response team if the situation where there is a massive network disruption (example: Earthquake, Typhoon, Manmade-induced, etc.).
The ERT, headed by a Senior Manager shall be activated and shall have the sole authority to decide, act and direct the entire network operation, according to him.
He said that ERT has its budget, manpower, and other resources needed to achieve the objective – network restoration.
“Telcos ERTs are on standby during the election period,” he said.
