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HongKong lessons after Taiwan earthquake web woes
From: David Farber <dave () farber net>
Date: Sun, 7 Jan 2007 09:13:10 -0500
Begin forwarded message: From: "D.H. van der Woude" <dirkvanderwoude () gmail com> Date: January 7, 2007 8:55:28 AM EST To: dave () farber net Subject: HongKong lessons after Taiwan earthquake web woes I just got this mail from our FttH friend in HongKong. Their press release, listing reasons why their customers suffered less, may be of interest to some on this list. Nr 1 on over provisioning of bandwidth is noteworthy. As are the remarks on changes in the universal service obligation. And of course the bbAid offer to speed install 100 Mb symmetric at customers of the incumbent that are still down ;-) ---- Dear partners & friends,In response to the recent outage of overseas telecommunications services in Hong Kong, HKBN had held a Press Conference today (7th January 2007) afternoon, where the Chairman Mr. Ricky WONG has explained the reason of HKBN's swift recovery, with further suggestions to the Government & OFTA on measures that could be taken, as well as the launch of new service "bbAid", serving to provide emergency broadband internet support to those that have lost internet access.
Attached please find the relevant Press Release for your reference, for further enquiries, please feel free to contact Ms. Peggy CHAN at 3145 6068 or fungyee () ctihk com.
Hong Kong Broadband Network Ltd HKBN offers suggestions to the HKSAR Government on Internet Outage and "bbAid" launched to support emergency broadband needs for Hong Kong. (Hong Kong, 7th January 2007) Due to the Earthquake in Taiwan on 26 December 2006, Hong Kong's overseas telecommunications services had been severely affected by the damage of several submarine cables, hindering the services provided by all Hong Kong's Internet Service Providers. Hong Kong Broadband Network Ltd. ("HKBN"), with rapid response from staff and business partners, was one of the first service providers to restore overseas telecommunications service by 11:42 am, 28th December, 2006. Within two days following the disruption, HKBN customers were able to connect to overseas websites, with access to applications such as MSN Messenger, ICQ & Yahoo Messenger resumed. HKBN's rapid restoration was due mainly to: 1) Rigorous design of the HKBN network ensured that there are always 30% over-provisioning of bandwidth, equivalent to a 1.3 times bandwidth capacity over the average bandwidth utilization for customers. Although the recent disruption has lowered HKBN's bandwidth provision, this over-provisioning design had come into force thereby minimizing the impact to customers. 2) HKBN staff responded immediately, acquiring extra bandwidth from a variety of International Telecommunications Service Providers, and re-routing telecommunication traffic to alternative routes. Whilst HKBN customers were able to resume their essential Internet services within two days, the majority of Hong Kong Internet users are still negatively impacted, even until today. This highlights the deficiency in the industry's existing telecommunication services' arrangements & contingency planning. HKBN would like to offer the following suggestions: 1) Re-formulate bandwidth arrangements to form a network alliance whereby in times of crisis when Hong Kong's Internet & overseas telecommunication services are affected, bandwidths of all ISPs should be centralized and distributed to all users, ensuring availability of services to all. OFTA should assume the central regulatory role in crisis impact analysis and execute the technical arrangements between all ISPs. 2) Under the existing Telecom Legislature, the dominant fixed telecom network service operator must perform a Universal Service Obligation, providing comprehensive network coverage in Hong Kong, ensuring the basic telecommunication needs of everyone are met. However, this is currently limited to basic voice service only. As Internet is now an essential part of our daily lives, broadband service has already become a necessity to consumers. Hence, HKBN suggests extending the application of the Universal Service Obligation to include broadband Internet access as well as overseas telecommunications. Appreciating the importance of communications, HKBN announced the launch of "bbAid" to those who are still suffering from overseas bandwidth outage, providing immediate broadband service aid. Effective from 8th January 2007, PCCW Netvigator's broadband customers can register at hotline 3498 3498, where HKBN will install bb100 service (symmetric 100Mbps access) within 24 hours, with up to 200 installations daily. The "bbAid" is offered to provide immediate outbound communication services to those with urgent needs, with no contract commitment and installation fee required, and services charge being HK$10/day (minimal charge is HK$20). Should no contract renewal or cancellation notice be received from customer within 30 days after installation, such service will be terminated automatically after the said period. Chairman of HKBN, Ricky Wong said, "As one of the major ISPs in Hong Kong, the Group will continue to strive with best efforts, contributing to enhancing Hong Kong's leading position as Asia's telecommunications hub. Our outstanding performance in this incident is a result of our dedication to continue improving our service quality, advancing towards becoming Hong Kong's leading ISP. As the pioneer of Hong Kong's telecommunication services, valuing the criticality of overseas telecommunications, we hope the new measures would serve to relief the stress and inconvenience for consumers that are suffering from outage of international bandwidth." - End- Established in 1992, City Telecom (H.K.) Limited (SEHK : 1137, NASDAQ : CTEL) provides integrated telecommunications services in Hong Kong. City Telecom's wholly-owned subsidiary, Hong Kong Broadband Network Limited (HKBN), is in the process of expanding its Metro Ethernet from 1.3 mn to 1.8 mn homes pass, reaching 80% of Hong Kong's total population. HKBN has achieved an aggregate Voice, Broadband (symmetric 1000Mbps, 100Mbps,25Mbps and 10Mbps), IP-TV and Corporate data service base in excess of 1,300,000 subscriptions. Additional information on City Telecom can be found at www.ctigroup.com.hk For enquiries, please contact : Corporate Communications Jessie CHENG Tel: (852) 3145 4118 Fax: (852) 2199 8372 Email:chengcm () ctihk com -- Each day, one day is added to our past, and thus one day subtracted from our future. That is why the future ought to be simpler than the past. Why is it then, that we always wrestle with the future? ------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed as lists-ip () insecure org To manage your subscription, go to http://v2.listbox.com/member/?listname=ipArchives at: Archives: http://archives.listbox.com/247/
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- HongKong lessons after Taiwan earthquake web woes David Farber (Jan 07)